Evening star., 1911-06-04
Nove1ists Davis and Phillips as Reporters

kind for one OF the main New YusA
dailies
held in one of the parlors Of the Murrey
Hill Hotel. II was a meeting called by
William c. Whitney. and II had a good
deal to do with the political fortunes Of
the meeting was going to be held. and
where 1t was going TO be held. but II also
was known for dead certainty that
there wasn't a chance on earth for the
newspaper to get hold of a single detail
OF what was In the wind to happen 1T the
meeting. This fact, of course, made the
city editors all the more keen to get the
jump on each other; to score a beat,
that is, by obtaining, by hook or crook.
at least an outline of the proceedings at
the secret political meeting. Every man
participating I'm the meeting had been
sworn to secrecy by Whitney: they all
were men whom he knew he could trust,
and the most elaborate precautions had
been taken to see to IL absolutely that
no newspaper man should get near
enough to the parlor In the Murray Hill
Hotel where the meeting was to take
place to toss peach at the door.
Davis city editor wasn't particularly
keen for the young man. for some reason
or other; probably because Davis was
then, as now. a pretty independent sort
OF customer. And the city editor had
been handing Davis work that was ex-
traordinarily difficult to do properly
Davis had been doing the work not only
properly. but with conspicuous dash and
success. which made the grabbed city
editor all the more keen to throw" him,
for there was actual jealousy in the
bosom of this city editor.
So. when Davis reported at l O'Clock on
the day of the evening when the political
meeting was to be held. the city editor
summoned him at once and told him
what was in the air.
What you are TO do. Davis. 10 thas:
You are to go to the Murray Hin Hotel
right away, get hold of some hotel en-
ploye that you can bribe, hand him The
coin-we'H stand for any reasonnble
anaount-and have him secrete you Apme-
where in the parlor where the political
meeting is to be held You're to stay hid
den there all the afternoon ana wait for
the meeting to be held and be over with.
Then you're TO hand US the storA On
you're going to get IT."
Davis didn't say anything, but weaped
away pondering. Then he walked out of
the Office and went to Daiy's billiard haii
and played billiards for fve or SIX hptYs.
Then he went 20 the old Brevoort Hpuse
and had an elaborate dinner for himSelf-
a dinner that lasted from In the evoain9
and at midnight he walked into the o6isN
''wen?" the city editor shot at him
We'll, what?' asked Davis.
DIE get that storyT'
No"
'whyr This in = positive baw.
Because" said Davis, II never want
in much for this second-StU1. poruh-
climbing stuff. never was much Of Q hand
to sneak around and spy on the affairs Of
gentlemen. didn't like the assignment, and
haven't been any nearer the Murray Ell
Hotel than Washington Square since I
left the Office at I o'clock. Furthermore.
do you know what I think Of your I
think you're crazy. That's what I think
of you"
Whereupon Davis strolled out OF tie
Office. He reported for duty the next day.
feeling perfectly certain that the minute
he showed his face to the city editor he
would be incontinently fired and told to
go to the cashier for his money. Instead
the city editor grinned blandly
Nobody got a line about that meeting
Davis" he said, ''and SO that lets YOU
out What's more, your gall wins. But
the next time you hand me q bunch OF
impudence like that
Davis and that city editor, who is now
an editor-in-chief, are often seem on
broadway together. They're very pally
and chubby: indeed.
City editors are human, and have =
sense of humor. The sense of humor may
be submerged, but it's there Otherwise
they never could last as city editors.
CLARENCE L CULLEN