Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-12-06


would not recognize him as reporter
No Exclusive Stuff From Croker.
He boarded the ship and remained In
his stateroom until just as the vessel
was leaving the dock, for fear of rec
ognition by the other reporters, Whom
he knew would be there in one last ef-
fort to interview Mr.. Croker. He could
not resist the temptation, however, 10
come on deck to wave to the fellows he
was leaving behind. Just as he did SO
he was surprised to feel himself slap
ned on the back. Turning he saw be-
side him Mr.. Croker and his brother-
in-law. DR.. Jenkins, health officer OF
the port of New York.
Halo, Smith," said DR.. Jenkins cor
diallv. what are you doing here? Mr.
Croker. let me introduce to you Mr..
Smith, one of the best reporters l
know"
And of course Mr.. Smith extracted
nothing surreptitiously from Mr.. Gro
ker that trip.
1t was the same reporter who, one
afternoon, was assigned to see a man
living at his country home ten miles
from the nearest railway station.
When he left the train it was late in
the evening and the proprietor of the
one livery stable in the place was just
closing up for the night.
Can you let me have rig and
driver to take me to Mr.. Xs?" Smith
asked.
Il kin let you have a rig all right,
but all the drivers are gone.
A Night Drive With Lunatie.
Smith protested that he must have a
driver, and the liveryman, after think
ing it over, turned to hulk OF giant
sitting by the door with:
Maybe, Bill, here, could drive YOU"
Bill proved to be almost stone deaf,
but finally was made to understand
what was wanted of him and nodded
his head in assent. For several miles
he and Smith rode side by side in ST.
lence up a lonely mountain road, the
way Illuminated only by lantern hung
over the dashboard. Suddenly the dri-
yer turned to Smith and growled:
Curse you,. quit your gritting your
teeth at me-"
With as much politeness as Is possi-
BILE when you are shouting to a man
who is as deaf as post, Smith tried
his best to explain that he wasn't grit
ting his teeth at all, but Bill lapsed
again into moody silence and gave no
indication that he had heard him. For
perhaps another half mile he drove on.
Then, stopping the horse, he lifted the
lantern and let it's light shine full into
Smiths face.
Curse you," he repeated, quit grit
ting your teeth at me, or I'll kill you
It was evident now to Smith that the
man was a maniac. 1t was a desperate
situation. Here he was miles away from
the town on a lonely mountain road
with a man twice his equal in physical
strength, who seemed ready at any mo-
ment to turn and kill him. The deaf
ness of the man made cajolery impos-
sible. What was he to do?
The light of a wayside tavern BEAM
ed out. Quickly Smith decided on a
course of action. Tapping the drivers
arm he invited him by signs to have
a drink and Bill nodded assent. AS
soon as their drinks were poured out
Smith flung some money on the bar
and running to the blackboard drove
away at a gallop until he reached the
next house, which proved to be the one
he was seeking.
He returned in the daylight, keeping
wary eye out for the driver he had
deserted, but saw nothing of him-in
fact, never heard of him again except
for what the liveryman said when he
related his adventure.
Now, amt that funny. You see,
Bill a matter of ten or twelve years
ago cut the throats of his wife and
two children. They sent him away to
the state asylum for a spell, but after
while let him out as cured. Come to
think of it, he has been acting kind Of
peculiar lately"
Such are the stories that any report
er can tell you, if he will, of the ex-
periences that are his as he helps
write the daily biography of the nation,
for his is one of the few twentieth GEN.
tury callings left in which adventure
is a daily experience. His day has no
cut and dried routine. He never knows
when he enters the office where his
work may lead him. He comes in con-
tact with all manner Of men, women
and conditions.
A doctor knows only doctors and pa
tients, a lawyer knows only lawyers
and judges and clients, a preacher
knows only other preachers and
church. folk, a merchant knows only
other merchants and clerks and GUS
toners, but a reporter, a newspaper
man, a news -gatherer-call him any
thing but a journalist-knows preach
SIS dllu pOllllCldllS, puSlllSl anu pOllCS-
men. One hour he may be talking to
society parsonage and the next lis
tening to a scrubwoman's gable. A
millionaire or a murderer to him is
only so much space" and speaking of
millionaires:
Buying Wine For a Vanderbilt.
Can you let me have two dollars
till pay-day?" asked a yachting re-
porter of one of his fellows.
Sure" said the other.
I'll tell you, though" continued the
suppliant, IF Vanderbilt had spent as
much of his fortune on me yesterday as
l spent on him l wouldn't be broke.
went up to his hotel to see him-Willie
X. Jr.-about his yachting plans. He
invited me into the cafe and ordered a
pint of wine. When that was gone
ordered a pint, though the ten dollar
bill in my pocket was every cent l had
in the world. Then he ordered two
fifty-cent cigars and another pint.