Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-03

Copyright 1906. by Mcclure, Phillips s oo)
1t was a winter day. bleak, dreary,
threatening. The train had been running
at moderate speed across the desert for
hours, and when the foothills came into
sight the engine made an extra squirt,
then settled down to slow, deep breathing
and steady pull up grade. In the smok-
ing compartment the only passengers were
a fashionably dressed young man of TWEEN
ty-three or thereabouts, and opposite
boyish-looking fellow who had been watch
ing him literally with open eyes and mouth
for half an hour.
ITS rawther cool up here" remarked
the gentleman presently.
The boys face lighted up as he answered
haltingIy: Yes. sir; but I like 1t. It's
my home You're Mr.. Derron, aren't you?
I've seen you in Phoenix"
Derron smiled complacentIy ION the
evening papah, you know" said he,
Eyes. / know '-shyly. Il always wanted
TO be a newspaper man. a-.--
Derron eyed him critically. Looks like
a droolng idiot. bah JoveE' he muttered IN
an undertoue.
Into the boys eyes crept a wisttui eX-
preston. His jaw dropped lower; his
hulkIng body seemed shrinking into It.
self
IF you like" condescended Derron. IN
tell You something of the requisites OF
Journalist. Mr.-Cr--'
smith" supplied the other In a drawl-
ing tone.
AS the reporter talked he smoked. light
ing one cigarette at the blood of another
until the little room was filed with Vapor
that drove Smith to set up backfre with
a corncob and tinecut tobacco.
I'm the first place nah deah boy. a
Journalist must be a man OF the world
able to read men at a glance and women
at half a blush. And in this country he
must possess nerve and tirearm or two
Carelessly Derron exposed his belt-two
revolvers, q pistol, three knives. At the
sight his companion made queer little
sound in his throat and asked:
You weren't brought up in the west
were you, mister?''
mo Smith | happened in Boston. But
to continue. \ journalist, in the repertorial
stage of his career. should possess courage
and strength; he must be a man to face
storm and tempest. outlaws and wild
beasts; a man to deal out death on ocCa-
sion"
The boys jaw dropped lower yet; into his
gray eyes crept look of awe.
above all" Derron added impressively,
"a reportah must keep his mouth shut"
The idiots" Jaw came up half way, as
If its owner We're trying to apply this last
rule literally. do you ever go out on dan
gerous trips he asked
DerrOn lowered his voice he leaned
forward to answer:
I'm out now to see that jail breaker
from TombS toneF
The boy startled. what, Bravo Ricar-
do2' he asked.
Yes He's short Of money. and there's
a reward on his head you know. Hes
sent word to our papah that for consider
alton he will grawnt an interview. with
photographs of himself. l say, it will be
SCOOP to turn old Bebee a seasiCk green
with pure cuvyl OF course. being sheriff
handicaps him sOmewhat-he couldn't print
an interview of that kind in his papah!
why mott" asked Smith DULY; then, a $
Derrou uttered an impatient exclamation:
I'm not very bright" he apOlogized
81 should think uot!' muttered the re-
porter.
When the train slowed down at a station
consisting of telegraph office and three
clumps of sage brush Derron said: This is
my destination, Smith"
Mine, too, drawled the boy,
The young men swung off and watched
the train out OF sight. The clouds that had
Rugged the mountains all day were now
threatening the valley. The reporter look
ed doubtfully up to the left, where a long
canyon opened up a mountain side; then
looked with doubt to the right, where an