Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-07-18

ness that filled him to the fin.
tEy ger tips. When returned he
smote me on the breast, an unfailing
mark OF his favor, and doubled my
salary.
IF he ever smites you on the breast"
Michigan had once said to me, turn
the other side, for, man, your fortune Is
made"
And there was some truth in the
warning.
He was writing when came in. A
woman sat beside him talking. An i'm
mense ham lay on the marble top Of
the steam radiator. A basket Of eggs
sat on the floor near Mr.. Greeley
desk. All sorts Of merchandise were
sent to the Tribune those days for no
tice and sold at auction to members Of
the staff by Mr.. Dana.
"Yes, yes, madam. Go on, I hear
you." said the great editor as his pen
Jew across the white page.
She asked him then for a loan OF
money. He continued writing, but pres.
emily his left hand dove into his trou.
sers pocket coming up full Of bills.
.Take what you want" said he, hold.
ing 1t toward her. land please 60. for
am very busy" Whereupon she
helped herself literally and went
away.
Seeing me, Mr.. Greeley came and
shook my hand warmly and praised
me for good soldier.
"Going DOWNTOWN he said in mo.
ment, drawing on his big white over.
coat. walk along with me, won't
your"
We crossed the park, he leading me
with long strides. AS he walked he
told how he had been suffering from
brain fever. Passing st. Paul's church
yard he brushed the iron pickets with
his hand as If to try the feel Of them.
Many turned to stare at him curiously
He asked me soon II would care to
do a certain thing for the Tribune,
stopping to look in ut show window
as l answered him. I waited while he
did his errand at a Broadway shop,
then we came back to the Office. The
publisher was in Mr.. Greeley's room.
Where's my ham, DayeY said the
editor IS he looked at the slab OF mar.
BILE where the ham had lain.
'sDon't know for sure" said the pub
Usher. IT'S probably up at the house
Of the editor by this time"
what did you 60 an give 1t to him
for?" drawled Mr.. Greeley in tone OF
lrreparable injury. 81 wanted that
ham for myself
| II didn't give 1t to him." said the
| publisher. He came and helped him
self. Said he supposed it was sent in
for notice."
"The internal their Mr.. Greeley
piped. with violent gesture. 't1'll
swear IL didn't keep my shirt but
toned tight they'd have that too"
The ham was serious obstacle In
! the way Of my business. and It went
over until evening But that and like
incidents made me to know the man as
I have never seen him pictured--a boy
grown old and gray. pushing the power
Of manhood With the ardors Of youth.
resumed work on the Tribune that
week. My first assignment was 6
mass meeting In q big temporary struc
ture, then called wigwam, over II
Brooklyn. Ny political life began tina,
day and all by an odd chance. The
w1gwam was crowded to the doors
The audience had been waiting half az
hour for the speaker. The chairman
had been doing his best to Kill time
but had run out Of ammunition. He
had sat down to wait An awkward
silence had begun. The crowd was
stamping and whistling and clappinl
with Impotence. Az walked dowr
the center aisle to the reporters table
they seemed to mistake me for the
speaker. Instantly great uproar be
gan. It grew louder every step took
began to wonder and then to feal
the truth. As neared the stage the
chairman came forward, reckoning tt
me. I Went to the Aight of steps lead
ing up to. that higher level Of distin
guished citizens and halted, not know
ing just what to do. He came and
leaned over and whispered down a,
me. remember he was red In the
face and damp with Precipitation.
what II your name?'' he inquired.
"Brower. said I IN whisper. y.
A look Of relief came into his face
and am sure look Of anxiety camt
into mine. He had taken the center Of
the stage before could stop him.
Ladies' and gentlemen" said he. q
am glad to inform you that Genera
Brewer has at last arrived"
] remembered then there was a Gen
eral Brewer in the army, who was alst
power in politics.
In the storm OF applause that fol
lowed this announcement / beckonet
him to the edge Of the platform again
was nearer condition Of menta
panic than have ever known since
that day.
II am not General Brewer" whis
pered
What" said he in amazement.
II am not General Brewer" ! said.
Great heavenslo he whispered. GOV
ertng his mouth with his hand ant
looking very thoughtful. "You'll hay.
70 make speech anyway. There's nj
Sscape.
| could see no way out Of it and aftel
moments hesitation assembled tn,
platform. took OF my overcoat ant
made speech. Fortunately the issu,
was one with which I had been loni
| familiar. told them how l had beer
trapped. The story put the audience Il
good humor, and they helped me aloni
| with very generous applause. And 81
began my career In politics. which hal
brought me more honor than de
served, although know 1t has moi