Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-16

Ing. At the expiration of the fourth quar-
ter OF an hour the reporter learned that
Haggins wrath was 'somethin' awful"
When the fifth fifteen minutes had passed
the boy stepped into the billiard room with
these tidings:
Hes a coming out, boss Going to take
the o'clock train. He took your card"
The reporter abandoned the game with
unseemly haste and got into the Office in
time to confront Haggin.
What do you mean by bothering me
with your card all the afternoon he de-
manded. Don't you know I won't be IN
terviewed."
Il don't wish to interview you, Mr. Hag-
gin." explained the reporter; Il only want
TO ask few questions about your horses,
I understand" then followed a string
which surprised Haggin into a denial and
plain statement OF the facts the reporter
wanted to know.
By this time they had walked through
the outside door and were on the street.
Now" said Haggin, that's all there
Is Of that. And I won't be interviewed
Again the reporter assured him of his
entire disinclinat1on to interview him.
But Mr.. Hasgin--' Then followed an
other twisting Of entirely baseless rumors,
and again Haggin rose to the bait. This
was kept up until the station was reached
by which time the reporter had got all
the Information he wanted-quite enough
to fill column and half of space and
deprive the city editor of any chnace what
ever of ordering his dismissal just then.
How John Arbuckle Was Overreached.
This story recalls one which has been
told, possibly In print about John Ar
buckle, the coffee and sugar king. Ar
buckle Is about as set against interview
ing as any OF the others, though of late
years he has loosened up occasionally par
ticularly when asked about his ship board
ing house schemes.
Arbuckle was in some middle west city
on business not altogether disconnected
with his row. then at its height, with the
sugar trust. reporter, sent to interview
him. was rebuffed so decidedly that the
city editor perceived further effort to be
useless
But the city editor was a young man
with more than one string to his bow He
knew that Mrs. Arbuckle was with her
husband and remembered that the wife OF
the manager Of the hotel where they were
staying was clever woman. The city
editor knew her well. He had lived a long
time at the same hotel.
SO he went to her with his trouble, ex-
planning that the next best thing to an in
terview with Arbuckle in the next morn
ings paper would be an interview with
Mrs. Arbuckle. Perhaps 1t would be even
better. The managers wife often talked
with the wives Of prominent men visiting
the motel ana IhuS ADDED TO Its popularity
.or the wives were sometimes lonesome
while left alone by the husbands.
Perhaps she might talk with Mrs. Ar
buckle, remember what she said and give
a report OF It to the newspaper man. II
she would the owner of the newspaper
wouldn't mind handsome check in recog-
milton of her service.
The managers wife wasn't at all averse
to the proposition. She had made the &C.
quaintance OF Mrs. Arbuckle already, had
found her a very unassuming, agreeable
woman, and on the whole rather liked the
idea. Mr.. Arbuckle was out of the hotel
at the moment. Mrs. Arbuckle was alone
and the interview should begin at once
1t did, Mrs. Arbuckle was glad Of the
diversion a visit" with the managers
wife afforded. and the two women had a
long and. as it appeared from the printed
story next day. highly interesting talk.
Having an excellent memory. the hotel
managers wife was able to make an ac-
curate report to the newspaper man, but
being woman OF tact as well as clever.
ness, she omitted some things which were
said, the publication OF which might have
been bad business for Arbuckle Just al
that time.
When Arbuckle read the report It is
said that he was more pleased than other
wise. so skillfully did the hotel managers
wife do her work.