The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-12-03
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He was only a cub" but he couldn't
help that; years Of inexperience in
the newspaper field had served to show
him few, if any, Of the Fundamental
principles of newsgathering and news
writing, but he was willing to learn,
and was persistent. And so it came
about yesterday afternoon that, while
making the daily round of his beat
and also in covering the special 'as-
signments" mapped out by the city ed
itor, one of the scribes Of a Walla Wal
la publication found himself in a pre-
dlcament, from which eXtricatiOn
seemed impossible without giving the
bystanders the ''hunch'' that the laugh
was on him.
While still far down the street, the
cub" was given a tip that a man,
CORY with blood was seen passing
through an alley but a moment pre-
vious, and it was the supposition that
he had eitner-Or eyether-been seri-
Cusly injured in an accident Of some
kind or had been mixed up in a fami-
ly or neighborhood quarrel. The mans
the reporter faithfully promised his in
formant that the details in all their
vividness, would be forthcoming in the
next issue of his rag
ThencefOrth, he proceeded to ge,
busy, first calling at the office for a
ream of note paper Hastily taking
the clue which had been furnished him
CITY no
cil-pusher set out upon his quest for
a SCOOP" while visions of an addi-
tional FLYER" on his pay-check fitted
systematically before his excited vision
The first thing was to determine the
employment of the injured individual;
that, of course was easy. as the name
had been furnished, and the city direc-
tory was handy. Inquiry at the place
Of business revealed the fact that the
gentleman desired had just stepped
out. but would return in a moment"
Where did he go? Oh, he just stepped
through the alley. Perhaps he was over
at IS.
The trail was warm; now or never
unused the unsophisticated cub, as he
slObbered through the knee deep mud
of a Garden City alley, in search Of the
bloodstained individual "Ah hat"
with Theatrical emphasis) "At last
my perseverance is to be rewarded:
now I'll get 'story'-just watch me-"
he muttered TO himself as he espied a
drop of blood upon a gate-post at the
rear of one Of the Main street business
houses.
Must have been an attempted muir
der. or, better still. an unsuccessful
suicide. Anyway. it will make good
reading for the c'amoring public"
Sloshing through the mud, the ener-
getic follower of the quill wended his
way through the semi darkness until
he reached a narrow walk leading to
the rear door of booze dispensary,"
wherein the CORY individual was sup
posed to be receiving treatment for his
wounds.
Don't know what the manager
would say if he saw me going in here.
and via the back way too" he soil
lOquised as he stumbled on, "but ]
have my reputation yet to make, so
here goes Thus thinking, the door
was pushed carefully open, enabling
the embryo author to gain a view Of
the interior Of the place. There seemed
to be no commotion whatever. A num-
Der Of people were siding up to the
bar, quaffing the amber beverage, but
that anything out of the ordinary had
occurred was not evident by the act
ions or attitude of those present.
Eagerly making his way to the bar,
the wouldbe news gatherer drew the
attention of the man behind the "fau
Get" and breathlessly asked:
Did a man, al covered with blood
come in here a minute ago."
yep; he was here not long ago."
was the encouraging reply.
where did he go? How did he ge,
hurt? Will he live?' A dozen red-ho,
questions were fired point-blank at the
time that he was compelled to drop
back for reinforcements
What the h are you talking about,
anyway; are you cracked?"
mo: but I was told that man all
covered with blood came in here a mo-
ment ago, and-Pm a newspaper re-
porter. you know Tin an apologetic
tone) I wanted to find out how badly
he was hurt, how it happened, and all
Of the particulars"
"That SOP" came the tantaizing que
ry. "Well?"