Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-13
DAILY SHORT STORIES
How | Won
BY GROVER S. GRIFFIN
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


fession did SO because l had literary
tastes and facility for writing.
soon found that the principal ingredi-
ent in the success OF n newspaper man.
especially while on the lower rungs OF
the ladder. is getting ahead OF the
other fellows. l soon tired OF the
routine work OF collecting news and
was thinking OF giving up Journalism
when something happened; in other
words, my opportunity arrived.
The president OF the United States
proposed TO Russia and Japan. who
were then at war. TO settle their diff
ferences. a meeting was called be-
tween the representatives OF the two
nations to meet Mt Portsmouth. Our
American newspapers are not used as
they are in Europe To getting ahead
or one another In news OF matters per-
tanning TO government and diplomacy
or my opportunity would not have oc-
Cured at this time, for / was very
young, had no acquaintance calculated
10 give me advance news and had not
distinguished myself In my profession.
Tie managing editor OF an obscure
paper sent me TO Portsmouth simply
to transmit the news as II came out,
with comments on the crowds and de-
scriptions OF the distinguished PARTED
pants.
But wild dream came into my
head. 1t occurred To me that If /
alone among several hundred ncwspa-
per correspondents could get at the
treaty Of peace, If one were made. and
telegraph 1t to my paper so that II
could be published before any other
paper published IL | might make my
self famous as n newspaper man. And
here opportunity came In again 10 help
me. ON my journey to Portsmouth j
travelled on the same train as one OF
the Russian representatives. He had
with him a number OF attendants, con-
Sisting OF secretaries, stcnographers
and servants. j made the acquaint-
cnce OF several OF the suit and II CO.
Cured to me that / might possibly
make deal with some one OF them To
give me the news for consideration.
| doubt If / should have attempted to
fashion, but i knew that u russian
was much more amenable to the per
suasion Of funds.
/ fell into conversation with one,
whom l Shall call Potsdon. Il copyist
/ gave him cigar and several drinks
from my flask. / explained to him
my desire and found q willing listener
| ended by Offering him $50 II he could
get me the treaty should one be made.
in time to send 1t to my paper for
publication ahead OF all other jour
nails.
1t may seem remarkable that i
should have offered so small sum for
such a valuable prize. The truth is /
offered him all the money that had
been given for my expenses after pay
ing for my tickets, and he had no
knowledge Of where he could sell his
information elsewhere. Besides this,
when the deal was made neither OF us
dreamed that there would be any sue
cCss in our efforts We had plenty OF
time on the train TO concoct any
scheme that might be necessary for
the transmission Of information from
cate part Of our work, for after the
convention once met and proceeded
with its deliberations any possessing
it's secrets would be watched carefully
The plan we adopted was this: l
would take one meal a day at the ho-
tel where Potsdoff's master put up. I
would wait outside the dining room
until l saw Potsdon go I'm. then go i'm
myself and, going out before him, pick
up his hat instead OF my own, he later
taking mine. At the next meal we
would change hats back again.
We'll. the convention met and began
It's deliberations. Potsdoff and / did
not have any need TO change hats till
the articles OF the treaty were being
brought up for discussion. Then as
soon as an article was written out my
man, who was engaged IN the work,
would put copy Of IT, written on
thin paper. in his hat, and / would
coon a<ter be its possessor
was I'm n continuous state OF anx
iety lest the plenipotentiarles should
fail TO agree and I should have all my
trouble for nothing Besides, fauclcd
that II a treaty were made and Of
fered 70 At a telegraph Office in Ports
mouth in advance OF its release
would not be able TO get It through
therefore resolved. If I did get e.
would take a train for some small
place distant from Portsmouth and
telegraph II from there.
Finally the convention began Ill
time an article was agreed 10 the same
evening I would find II written ont
within the lining OF the hat I would
put on on leaving the hotel dlnlnz
room. I was getting anxious FOR The
convention to end I had not Informed
my paper that I was rcscrving all mr.
money for n purpose and was IN debt
for everything ] required
At last the final articles were signed
ard a tire appointed for giving tn