The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-06-16
By F. B. c. ROBBINS

~ prize of one dollar to the per-
son who furnishes the most interest
ing item of local news for our next
issue. Here is an opportunity for
some of our young readers to use their
eyes and ears to advantage, and to
gain skill in writing. If results seem
to justify it, this offer may be repeat
ed from week to week. All contribu-
tions must be sent in by Wednesday
noon"
This announcement in the Greenhill
Banner greatly interested one young
reader. Johnnie Meloon fancied that
he would like to write for the paper,
and he was sure that he would like
the dollar. Here would be another
odd job. and odd jobs were Johnnie's
specially
BY their aid he had been able for
some time to get his living in Green
hill village. although he was not yet
Is years old, and small for his age,
and so far as he knew, was without a
relative in the world.
Johnnie had usually accomplished
whatever he undertook, and he made
up his mind at once that the prize
should come to him.
But as the week went by he grew
much less confident of success. He
began to think that there was truth
in remark he had heard to the effect
that Greenhill was a pretty "slow"
town, and he wondered how Mr. Stud
ley. the editor. managed to fill the pa
per every week. Certainly there had
not been, to his knowledge single
happening worth writing about.
On Tuesday evening, after he had
finished his chores at the Widow
Hardy's, where he was working for
his board, Johnnie went, out into the
village on one last hunt after an item.
After using his eyes and ears
awhile, as the paper had suggested.
but to no avail he wandered down to
the railroad station. thinking that per-
haps Tnlan, the good natured agent,
might have bit of news in his pos
session. AS he went along he imag-
1ned wreck on the road, Of which he
should be an eye witness
That would be something worth
writing up, and he thought that he
could do it effectively
Johnnie found no one at the station,
but he fingered a little to look about.
lie was always greatly interested in
railroad matters; and indeed. rail-
reading. and not newspaper reporting.
was what he really looked forward TO
as his career
From a siding huge freight car
doomed up in the moonlight, and with
his usual curiosity Johnnie went I'D to
1t. hoping to make out something of
the story Of it's wanderings from the
lettering on it's side
Some two hours later. when Johnnie
crept unobserved into his little room
over the Widow Hardy's shed, there
had been an accident which he was
certainly in position to write up. but
for reasons of his own he was not
anxious to make use of the opportun-
ity
u.
ever, it was borne in upon him more
and more that the story must be told.
Owing to the circumstances of his life
the boy had developed very keen
eye for the main chance" but in
spite of his sharpness he was honest
at heart, and meant to tell the truth
Yes. let the consequences be what they
might, the story must be told. and per-
haps it might as we'll be told in as
public a manner as possible. He be-
gan to compose an account of what
had happened and fell asleep at his
task
On his way to school the next morn
Ing Johnnie heard much conjecture of
kind that he could easily have put to
rest. but for the time being he kept
his own counsel. At noon he slipped
away from his companions and hur-
ried to the office of the Greenhill Ban
ner.
The editor looked up somewhat
Grossly from his desk as Johnnie en-
tered, but the scowl on his face
seemed to be connected with certain
long. printed slips that he was read
ing, pencil in hand, rather than direct
ed at his visitor.
We'll, young man, what can | do
for you?" he asked.
Johnnie, bethinking himself to take
off his hat, advanced and offered two
or three sheets of paper, on which was
written the following:
"A big freight car got away from
the station Tuesday night, and John
Meloon was the fellow that otarted it.
Meloon did not go to do it, but his had
no business foalinx with the brake.