Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-16
CITY DISCOVERER
KEEPS A TRYST

| The other afternoon the City Discoverer
| was strolling along one OF the shaded roads
in Rock Creek Park when he came upon
| dapper young stranger. sitting by the road
| side building queer little houses with thin
strtps OF shiny metal.
Good afternoon" remarked the City Dis
! covcrcr In his customary polite fashion.
"A beautiful day. In II notr'
The stranger hurriedly damned the metal
strips into his pocket and glanced sus-
piciousiy around. Good afternoon he re-
piled. gazing at tha City Discovercr dis
trustfuiIy. May I ask what you
snooping around here 70. =.
| sir" replied the City Discoverer. with
considerable dignity. II do not snoop. I was
merely taking a walk. and happened to
| pick out this road. as II Is an old favorite
| OF mine. Moreover. I hoped to catch
glimpse of the President. who often rides
| out his way
"Ah. the President" said the dapper
| stranger. smiling for the frs, time
| do you know him?" inquired the Dis
| coverer IN his usual curious fashion.
Goodness. yes" replied the stranger.
with wave of HIS hand. He aud I were
| classmates at Harvard"
He is remarkable man, don't you
, Think" inquired the City Discoverer. en-
| Enthusiastically.
He is a remarkably good Judge OF men,
| IL that Is what you mean" replied the
stranger He has the. utmost confidence
| in me-
He has great mentality" remarked
the City Discoverer, shaking his head
sagely.
mean. remarked the dapper stranger.
He has made me the head of an important
| investigating commission
The City Discoverer stared at the smiling
| stranger In some perplexlty. Then he mop
ped the perspiration from his forehead. re-
placed his gold-rimmed glasses. and in
CURED perfunctorily. What kind OF Q COM
| mission did you say Ii VAST"
AN investigating commission" replied
the smiling stranger. The President and
1 were classmates at Harvard. The Presi-
| dent Sas the utmost confidence in me-
| You said that before" suggested the
City Discoverer What meant to ask
is. What work the commission does?"
oh replied the smiling stranger vague
! ly. with airy wave of his hand. Just
the usual kind. It's right interesting.
though. The President has the utmost
confidence in me. We used to be class
mates at Harvard. Sometimes l play ten
mis- with him at the White House"
The City Discoverer removed his gold
| trimmed glasses. wiped them carefully.
| moppsd his brow and sighed. rs 1T hard
work to investigate" he inquired after
! pause.
IT'S just terrible sometimes" replied
the smiling stranger frankly. land people
| say such horrid things of us. But really
| don't mind. The President has the utmost
| confidence in me. The President and
were classmates at Harvard. Sometimes
Il know. know" said the City Disco
| erer hastily. but l was talking of
commission. Isn't the work interes,
| somettmesr
"Oh. dear. yes" replied the smilns
| stranger. enthusiastically. THE other day
| we had a witness on the stand who said
/ terrible things about another man. 1t was
| real fun
And then. of course" suggested the
City Discoverer. you sent for the man
about whom the terrible things had been
said: in order that he might defend him
Goodness" said the smiling stranger
scornfuily. but how stupid you are
thought mentioned that this was a gov
eminent investigating commission. We
| Then how do you do them inquired
|. the Discoverer.
Why. replied the smiling stranger i'm
the terrible things he wants to and then
| deny the man on whouathe attack Is made
chance to he heard. That fixes him. or
course. people say awfully rude things
| about us. But the President has the ut
| most confidence in me. The President and
| | were classmates at Harvard. Sometimes
| / play ten"
L remark
the Discoverer mildly. "But ! am very
much interested in your commission Are
your proceedings public? should like to
attend one OF the sessions"
| Dear me. no.. replied the stranger
| scornfully. We meet in a sound.nr
room with iron bars at the windows and
| double guards at the doors. The windows
are closed the shades pulled down and the
| telephone wires cut. Sometimes II gets
| awfuliy hot, but we take off our coats
| and don't mind 1t so much"
what Is the reason for all the secrecy?'
| inquired the Dfscoverer
| The stranger smiled afYablv "vv,c .,
he said that's the point The proceedings
| be public" 0 ~
But" suggested the City Discoverer .,
bewlldered fashion. II thought your friend
| President Roosevelt advocated publicity
Il believe In publicity. too" said the
| stranger in an aggrieved tone. ''When the
| sessions of the commission are over / am
going to look over the newspapers find out
| just how much has leaked out. compile IT
| and make 1t officially public That ought
| to satisfy everybody. And besides. the
| President has the utmost confidence in me-
He and I used to be classmates at Har-
| ward. Sometimes | play ten.
| What are you Investigating" interrupt-
| ed the City Discoverer In some haste
| People and things" replied the stranger
playing pitch and toss with the little strips
OF metal. lone man said another man
| shou'dn't 1--WE bought many frnnv-Iooi,
| Ing machines from a third man. don't
remember the exact det.iIs. and besides
| the investigation is awfuliy secret
| What are those things in your hand?"
| inquired the City Dscoverer.
| oh" replied the stranger those are
| some Of the things made by those funny
| looking machines mentioned. They make
the cutest building blocks I ever saw and
sometimes when it's dreadfully secret and
| frghtfully hot We all sit around the table
| and see who can build the highest house
of them. I've won three days In success
| sion"
| I'm very much Obliged to you" said the
| Discoverer. wearily. as he rose to GO But
| won't you tell me who you are"
why. certainly" said the stranger with
| another smile. my name is Keep and I
| am chairman of the printing Office investi-
| cation committee. The President has TIE
| utmost confidence In me. The President
| and I were classmates at Harvard. Some
| times play tennis at the White House"
| Goodness me-" remarked the City Dis
| coverer. he plodded homeward. his head
| sunk his breast who would have
| thought It,"
|