The Washington herald., 1915-10-24

reader, will assert IN time that TINS Is
not newspaper story. You will encounter no
shirt-sleeved, omniscient city editor, no prod
ICY Cub" reporter just of the farm. no scoop.
no story-no anything. LIE
But if you will concede me the setting of the
first scene in the reporters room of the Morn
ing Beacon. will repay the favor by keeping
strictly my promises set forth above.
Twas doing. space-work on the Beacon. hop
ing to be put ora salary. Some one had cleared
with rake or a shovel a small space for me at
the end Of bng table piled high with ex-
changes. Congressional Records, and old lilies.
There did my work Iwrote whatever the city
whispered or roared or chuckled to me on my
dilisent wanderings about its streets. My In
come was not regular. -
One day Trip came in and leaned on my
table. Trip was something in the mechanical
Department. think he had something to DO
with the pictures, for he smelled of photosra-
pliers supplies, and his hands were always
stained and cut up with acids. He was about
twenty-five and looked forty. Half of his face
was covered with short. curly red whlskers that
looked like door-mat with the welcome
left off. He was pale and unhealthy and miser-
able and fawning. and an assiduous borrower OF
sums ranging from twenty-five cents to dollar.
One dollar was his limit He knew the extent
of his credit as well as the Chemical National
Bank knows the amount of HsO that collateral
will show on analysis When he sat on my
table he held one hand with the other to keep
both from shaking. Whiskey. He had spuri-
OILS air of iehtness and bravado about him that
deceived no one, but was useful in his borrow
ing because it was so pitifully and perceptbly
assumed.
This day had coaxed from the cashier five
shining silver dollars as a grumbEng advance
on a story that the Sunday editor had peluc-
family accepted. So if | was not feeling at peace
with the world. at least an armistce had been
declared; and was beginning with ardor to
write a description of the Brooklyn Bridge by
moonlight.
We'll. Tripp." said |. looking up at him
rather impatiently. how goes ita" He was
looking today more miserable. more cringlng
and hasgard and downtrodden than had ever
seen him. He was at that stage of misery
where he drew your pity so fully that you long
ed to kick him.
Have you got dollar?" asked Trip, with
his most fawning look and his dog-ike eyes
that blinked in the narrow space between his
high-growing matted beard and his low-growing
matted hair 49,.
q have" said |; and again said. 4 have.
more loudly and inhospitably, and four be-
sides And had hard work corkscrewing
them out of old Atkinson, can tell YOU. And
| drew them" | continued, to meet want
hiatus-a demand need--an exigency-a
requirement of exactly FIVE dollars 10
was driven to emphasis BY the premonition
that was to lose one of the dollars on the
spot.
81 don't want to borrow any" said Trip.
and bfeathed again. 81 thought you'd like to
get put onto good story he went on. I've
got rafting fine one for you. You ought to
make it run a column at least It'll make
dandy if you work it up right. It'll probably
cost you a dollar or two to get the stuff. l.
don't want anything out of it myself." -
became placated The proposition showed
that Trip appreciated past favors, although
he did not return them. If he had been wise
enough to strike me for quarter then he would
have got it.
What is the story2" asked. posing my
pencil with finely calculated editorial air.,
I'll tell you" said Trip. Its girl. A
beauty. One of the howlinsest Amsden's
tunes YOU ever saw. Rosebuds covered with