Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-29
A NON-GRAFTING
CLOCK MEMBER

The other afternoon when the city Dis
coverer started out for one OF his long and
| favorite rambles the sky was gray and
| overcast. the wind chill and penetrating ana
| the earth ROBBED IN neutral autumnal tints.
And the DISCOVERIES mood harmonlzed
with the weather.
81 don't get half the pleasure out OF these
| walks that 1 once did he unused as he
,ramped sturdy along. his coat collar
turned up around his ears and his stout
cane tapping the road. There was once a
time when 1 thoroughly enjoyed these coun-
| try rambles, but OF late ! have been meet
ing so many sordid people. with sordld
| ideas and sordd thoughts. that It makes
me feel II human virtue were on tho
| decline. My view last week OF the nine
! gagged aN-grinders. my interview with tho
| New York Life Insurance president and my
talk with the government CRATER have ac-
| tually made me feel pesslmistic. And
suppose that this afternoon I shall meet
| some other sordId person who will want TO
| talk with me and gloat over his crimes Of
| cleverness.'
But the City Discoverer tramped for n
| long time without untoward incident. and
1t was not until he was returning home
! ward through Rock Creek Park that any
thing developed promising adventure.
In fact. the Discoverer had just about
| decided that for once he would not meet
| any one with troubles TO tell. when on turn
| ing bend In the road he saw. sitting on
bench by the wayside, mustached young
| man Of intelligent aspect. who was busily
| engaged I'm tinkering with clock.
| Good afternoon" said the clock mend
| ing stranger checrily, as the City Discov-
| erer was about to pass on. II suppose you
consider this very unusual occupation
| to pursue in public, do you notT"
| well, yes. | do the Discoverer re-
| piled, as he sat down on the bench beside
| the young stranger. Il suppose you make
| your living this way
No" replied the young stranger with
| merry laugh. II do not. ] am LAWYER
and this is merely one Of my diversions.
ITO turn your mind" the Discover
| suggested, suspiciously, from the ira'l'S
| of human nature2
quite right" said the young stranger
| brisltly: but l don't see how you guess"a
| it, When the world looms largI anu anu, ~ IN, n
| pass many pleasant and quiet hours TINS
| way" NJ, -, TN
Another one of the sordid class. j
| bet" muttered the Discoverer 10 mus e.,-
'And lust at present, continued inc
vo,Ino stranger with sigh, things IN my
own city are In a frightfui state. Graft -
rampant everywhere, and there are rev
| honest men in public life. why, only 'iT
other day a man came into my ofhce-l
may mention that | hold an extremely m
| portant municipal position-and o1eIea me
| large sum of money II Woulu C"huuN' -
| law case a certain way.
| Now II comes" muttered the city DIS
| coyerer; and he asked aloud. with an az.
| pearance of interest: What did you 90
Why" said the clock-mendlng strahSe..
| as he turned a surprised gaze on the tily
| Discoyerer Il had him thrown do~nstaHs
| and turned over to the police.
| NV goodness said the City Ddscoverer'
as ne turned much surprised anu inter
! ested gaze on the young stranger
But that isn't anything unusual. con
| tinued the clock-mendng stranger, Tor
| II was only short time ago that the poss
| of one of the biggest political parues IA
New York came to me and asked me what
/ would take if 1 wouldn't inquire where
| he got 1t. " ,--,,,.,z .t,,
| CITY Discoverer with interest
! II told him" replied the clock-mend.ng
stranger, with apparent giee, that j
| would take great pleasure in exposing MN
and his methods every time spoke III pun
| lie during the fall campaign
s.Heayens!" said the City DiscoYerer, saz-
! ing with surprise and delight on the gay
| stranger And did you make good your
| threat?' .-,-...t,,,
| stranger replied, why shouldn't II Do you
suppose I'm a CRATER as well as every pody
| else?" ,,,.- ,,,.,r,,o,..,
| with rare enthusiasm. You don't talk
| like one" -, A.,
That's what my friends say" said the
| mustached young stranger mouesty. but
| ones friends always compliment ny.
| NV opponents are not, however. only ne
other day the man who is opposing me TOT
| reelection to the important office holn
| said on the stump that knew where me
| boss got his'-meaning his graft on TINS
| and that and everything-and that was Il
| fool IL hadn't got it, too"
And what did you reply?' asked TIE
| City Discoverer anxiously.
| why" replied the clock-meuding stranB-
er. II replied in public speech that l
| was mighty glad to know the boss had
| got his and that if reelected 1 would take
| great pleasure in finding out where he got
| il and in prosecuting him for it
And do you get other offers OF graft
| ing nature?" the Discoverer inquired.
Lots of them" replied the mustached
young stranger.
AND what do you reply to them?" the
| Discoverer inquired.
| why said the clock-mending stranger
81 just tell them my name, and that seems
| TO be sufficient"
And what is your manner" inquired the
| Discoverer anxiouSly.
'.William Travers Jerome the young
| stranger replied.
| Who would have thought it? the Dis
coyerer muttered as he started on his home
ward way II feel a whole lot better mere
| ly to have had talk with an honest
| man" And the Discoverer his head up in
| the air and his mild blue eyes beaming be-
| hind his gold-rimmed glasses. hurried on
| his homeward way.