Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-07-19
The New
Reporter
By John Harwood Bacon
(Copyright.)

| litSeu W lISA1 u s'' ~ i''t' ~ '->'
| vent with a measure OF patronage.
My. what a pretty boy" gush"d
| Miss Eldredse. at the next desk.
| Miss Eldredge had been on tho Times
! for over II years. but WAS still as coy
as on the day OF her first assign
| mept.
Hope he'll get my run. and IL! be
| given hotels" muttcrcd Wilson. I'm
getting tired of allnight work"
| The newcomers arrival was mat
| ter of no general interest, As the
| reporters loitered in one by one. each
went straight to his desk and became
| absorbed in that section of the morn
| ing's news which he himself had writ
| ten the night before. giving no heed TO
the boy standing uncusily beside the
| city editor.
The Times staff was constantly
| changing. New men were taken on,
old men dropped. Oftcntlmes
| youngster would fall down" on an
important assignment. and another
would be recruited in his place.
1t was nearly halfpast one, the
hour for afternoon assignments.
WILSON,"
Sharply. almost surily. came the
summons from the city editors desk.
Ten to one. I go up" whispered
| Wilson, jubilantly. Being on duty
long after the other reporters had fin
ished work. he was not due at the OF
| fee until three O'Clock. His summons
at that hour could therefore have but
one meaning: the new man was to be
given police"
! This is Mr.. TomIins. Wilson," was
the editors curt Introduction, He's
| TO have your run, and you're tn he
tried on marine Take him around
| this afternoon and introduce him. and
| Butler will put you on to the ropes OF
| your new run tomorrow. No special
assignments to-day: only. look out for a
| follow.up story on that State street
robbery" Follow-up stories were MIR.
Edwards hobby.
Come along. TOmlins,' said Wilson.
somewhat ungraciously. He was dis
appointed at getting nothing better
than marine" which permitted short
hours, but demanded more "trottinS
! around"
! Getting acquainted with the other
| men on the stan was rather slow work.
! the average term Of police reporters
! being scarcely long enough to warrant
immediate friendships. But gradual
I " the name Of TOmlins-Tommy Tom
| Inns. 1t was-became familiar. and
| its curly-headed owner was accepted
| on a basic Of newspaper camaradcrie.
For the first few nights. the new
| reporter accompanied Wilson to Bier
sachs, the place" where, after mid
| night, every member Of the STAN.
from the managing editor to the copy
| boys, fingered over a chop or a sand
| witch and a mug OF beer. and enjoyed
| the first real respite of the long day.
| But. after two or three visits to Bier
sachs, Tomlins stopped going to sup
per with the others. As soon as his
| evening assignments were disposed
! of. and he was free to seek a bite TO
eat before entering upon the dog
watch" he would mysteriously disap-
pear.
Where do you feed now" de-
manded Wilson. after Tomlins, on
three successive nights. had declined
his invitation to go over to the
Dutchman's."
Il live only short way up the
J street." explained the little man.
straightforwardiy, so ] go home for
lunch.'
Ii was nearly a month later when
the city editor. while locking up his
desk ore night. exclaimed in an
amused undertone to Blake:
Look at that"
WHAT" asked the assistant. i'm.
palins two short items on a spindle,
and clearing away with q single sweep
the debris OF several hours copy.
reading.
"Tomlins."
Blake turned. and saw the police
reporter efusively greeting a rather
pretty girl. a year or two his Junior
who was standing smilingly on the
threshold.
Who is she?"
From the telephone ONCE. prob
ably. He has his nerve with him
| bringing 'em up here'
Learning city ways fast Not such
a child. after ALL"
The city editor smiled grimiy. His
work for the day was finished, and he
felt in fairly good humor-
As he and Blake passed out. Tom
rns kept on talking with his midnight
visitor. apparently undisturbed by the
fact that several curious glanccs were
sent in his direction.
Wait till call up the station &c
500 II anything is doing" hc said. As
his supcrfor disappeared. and Wen 60
and ge, something to eat"
The following night, however. the
| Il To- Los. "A.