The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-29
MAKING A REPORTER.
BY BALLARD UNDERWOOD.

were chiefly obituary notices.
bazaars and small fires
The city editor did not nave CONN
dence in him
He had displayed little Of the IN I
rtfurts that are essential 10 telOL tel9 /
who make names and are permitted 10
B1t Mcintosh knew the stuff was in /
him and that some time or otner ne (
would show it. ~,
one afternoon the CITY tuIl9L aiAl'5
hurriedlv from his room TO tue local
In his hand was piece of yellow pa (
per and he was excited w mere u
DaVis2 Where IS Holh w mere -
Allen" he shouted at Mcintosh
~ think they have gone" said the
You think they have? You don't
see them. do you- and 1ney uoh
usually leave YOU a MEMORANDUM Oh
their doinEs. hey2
The cub attempted to say some
thing but before he could proceed the
citv editor said Here, go TO Butler
on fhe o'clock train. I do not like to
trust so important an assignment 20
such an ordinary blockhead Get some
expense money down stairs and hurry.
You've barely time TO catch the train
Take this telegram. 1T will explain
why YOU are sent. Get your facts aud
write all you can get on the story EN
the time you arrive there l viii have
made arrangements with the telegraph
company to handle your matter as fast
as you can write it. Get along now
and do your best"
The cub" fairly flew to the depot.
Out Of breath almost he found q seat
in the car and for the first time looked
at the telegram. Tt was merely bulle-
tin from the Butler correspondent and
read.
"John Billings cashier Second Ma
tional bank found his wife in the arms
--7a4 saF4
Billings killed Champenois then his
wife and then himself Society is
greatly startled. Both the wealthie5t
and most influential in town How
much o.
Wen. here was story for the cub.
after all Butler was forty miles dis
tant and the train would make it in less
than an hour AS the cars sped along
the cubs mind was framing sentences.
He paced nerVOusly up and down the
aisleWay- occasionally throwing back
the lapel of his coat. showing his re-
porter's star Regaining his seat, ne
would take out pad of paper from his
pocket and scribhle. The opening SEN
tence Of his story could not be framed
exactly right to suit him. He wanted
something that would catch and gladden.
the editors eye at first glance. Finally
he wrote something, looked at it long
while, smiled and put the paper in his
pocket. AT Butler there was little diff
Guilty i'm obtaining the facts The cor
Uiirl $ IAiN WAS III session WtieU ne
aliehted from the train. He heard the
testimony of the servants in the Biz
lngs home. who saw the shooting. They
also testified that Champenois had been
frequent visitor at the Billings hons
both while Mr.. Billings was AT home ana
occasionally when the husband was alb
sent Their testimony was somewhat
sensational and disclosed a phase or
Mrs Billings life that was not i'm keep
ing with her reputation in the COM
munity Ghampenois left widow; Bill.
lngs had no children.
The cub secured photographs which he
mailed ON the o'clock train BY 40
o'clock he was i'm possession of an the
Information necessary for a long story
lie began to write. AT first he was
nervous and uncertain OF himself but
after he had written two or three hum
drec words the rest became easy to
handle He wrote rapidly and by mid
night he had three columns Of matter in
the newspaper Office. AT / o'clock the
fast train for New Orleans was due ana
the cub boarded it, He attempted to
write on the cars. but he found thar
difficult; gave that up and tried to talk
10 the conductor but the conductor was
busy In a double seat lust i'm front se-
a man calmly smoking cigar while
looking eat at the flashing shadows the
traln was making In the darkness Hat
poNes and Valises were piled UP around
MIN The cub sat down by the stranger
QnlnFited He had to talk to someone.
ne must ind some ear to listen to the
norriole tale that would appear in The
morning Herald, his stOry=the nlosr
awful tragedy he had ever read about
mucn less assigned to write its history
j ne stranger listened without display
ING any excitement or curiosity. He was
'leleilthdn ana traveller. so he in
Formed the cub. After the cub had tolG
ms story in all its CHASTITY details. tns
Frenchman looked intentIy out of tho
N.lluoM Tor some minutes before making
guy 9vil on comment. Finally he turned
nus mead and remarked that it was tho
bad Zoo bad"
remember story Of wife's insir-
i.s. rs Went on after bit "a
young Frenchman married the rooe+
beautiful woman in Paris. He 7vas Inn,
+iltu9FiY rlch, so was she Thew haN
zen s"eetnearts for years. and when
49, 49, Met9 married it was the mos,
lla1ie ceremony that had aLar,.
pace ia Paris for decade In tbs
supurps of that city he built the mos
extensive home that architects co741.-
F-'St. illlei II with the ccstliest Of
--l.i'iA7 ana surrounded Ii with every,
luxury Apparently the yvor,ar 49,,
MN ana WorshiDed him with ,.,.-,.-,.
1 HtsI 4eNotlon lie was always devisfne-
lttle trims making her presents 49,
lnlngs ne thought would n1easa go 5 .7
uenu her Occasionally he yvnnId +sI.
= IieHu satchel and drive to the statior
Saving tnat ne would be gone for tn.
sc 80 20 return within an hour or
~, nus sudden temperance being ro.
tne purpose of surprising her fba sur
gIlse peiug one filled with low And 50
they liVed for year with no sernent in
tnat neautiful paradise of theirs r.
strike at them with its fangs and annoy
them with its Kissing.
But one day the husband rs+,,r,. 3,
nome to ind his wife in the embrace ~
one OF MS supposed friends Both v-s,..
VIC with fear when they were discov-
e.tl- but the husband spoke calmly
almost kindly. They need. nor fear ~
would not harm either He even assist
eu ne false friend in putting On his
9Nelcoat. and as the man started to fh4
el invited him to call again. As be
reached the stems the hnsban7 ~,
MN BACK. The kisses? The pleasnre
o. t9cse beautiful liDs-ah should Won
tSe isase the madame some mement-,
your sweet experience : franz
piece, sav2 Yes. that v-o,,lJ ' ttg
ln.ls 80 the man. now Weeping be-
se1se ~ MS shame. went to the bvster-
tNal woman and Dlarad Tho 80, - L.,