The Washington herald., 1913-07-08

I find for the paper II the paper chose to
| take advantage OF its opportunity.
Amy ideas"' laconicaIly asked the city
| editor.
Now, II is disconcerting to be asked
all of a sudden if you have any ideas.
Sometimes II is difficult - think of
bright ideas right OF the reel.
"Ah. yes" replied van Benschoten,
however: "a great many ideas. in fact
l am a perfect mine Of ideas. Ideas is
| what i make a speciality Of"
He said all that in order to give him.
self time to think up some ideas
We'll, what could you write right now
| that would be interesting asked the
city editor.
For a minute the city editor had all
the best OF it, but, as luck would have
It. an idea rolled out Of the slot in van
Benschoten's mind.
| Billy. You know there was to be an
| eclipse of the sun today. For all I
know 1t occurred on schedule time, but
| this fog Is so dense that nobody would
ever know whether there is an eclipse
going on or not believe could write
| good feature story about how London
didn't see the eclipse
Write it, said the city editor.
How'll get into the Officer" quickly
| asked Billy.
That's a pretty good question" re-
marked the editor man. smiling for the
first time. I'll give you a card that
will let you in
So Billy wrote the eclipse yarn well
enough to get one more assignment
Go out and get up a good story to
run three-quarters OF a column about
the latest developments in the telephone
situation" were his instructions-just
that and nothing more.
And mind you. Billy didn't know any
thing whatever about the telephone situ-
alton. He didn't even know there was
situation.
But he asked no questions and started
out. For a while he stood on the street
corner. Then he walked up to a police
man and asked him:
Where can i find a lawyer"
"A WHAT" asked the cop.
II said a lawyer" said Billy. II wish
to consult a lawyer. Or solicitor, I
guess they're called, mostly"
There's n bunch of 'em in that build
ing yonder," said the cop. pointing.
The building proved to be a regular
hive of lawyers, or solicitors. Billy
roamed the corridors, peering in at every
open door. until he noticed a particularly
benevolent-looking, elderly lawyer. and
tnen ne walked In
Briefly he told he lawyer how he hap
pened TO be trying for a job and about
his assignment to write up the latest de-
velopment in the telephone situation.
And what 1 want" he explained. "is
some kind-hearted person like you ap-
pear to be to tell me what's up in regard
to the telephone business, What all has
happened so far? Then maybe I can
find out what may happen next"
II happened that the lawyer was a man
who kept himself informed on current
events, and he was able to start in at A
and explain the telephone troubles right
through to z. Billy thanked him and
went to the telephone company after
still later particulars. He was able then
&c write a story that made a hit in his
Office, and was on the first page of the
paper the next day.
Then he learned that the city editor
had handed him the telephone assign
ment on the assumption that he would
find il battling and return to the office
no more. Just at the end of two days
he was assured of place on that staff
as long as he wanted it.
He knew to the penny how much
money he would need to sail for home
TIE moment he had the required sum he
did thing that gave him a real thrill
of delight. He resigned.