The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-20
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Beins'A Que stioD lhdfs Honestly
Asked ByFNe Disappointed

lunches that comes to man only
once in a lifetime. He saw an OPP
portunity in buying up oil leases near
Erie. But he didn't have the money.
! Sc he borrowed $500 from an Erie
| friend and with the money leased
1000 acres Of land. The plan was
to divide the profits in case the leases
were sold.
| A few days later the dentist and
his dog were standing out in front
/ of one of the towns drug stores. A
| stranger approached the dentist-and
! the dog-and inquired concerning the
leases. The dentiSt-not the dog
admitted his guilt in owning them.
I'll tell you what I'll do said the
strange 'slicker," 'Tll give you $4,000
for that land"
Tht dentist looked at his dog. The
Airedale wagged his tan tail.
| All right, it's a CO." was the an
swer
The three walked across the street
to the bank and the money was turned
over to this man who had a hunch-
and a dog.
The dentist rushed to the office of
his friend and gave him his share. He
/ pocketed the remaining $4,000 Three
| weeks later the stranger began "spud-
! ding in" on the leases. He spent a
big sum drilling expensive holes in
|
found not even trace of oil.
But the dentists dog has a new coll
/ lar and several new sets of tools grace
the Erie dental parlor
Erie is a pretty town-wen kept.
well built, well paved and proudly
managed The towns fire companies
and good part of the population
was out the evening we arrived A
barn was burning. We didn't notice
the fire until later. But we saw
Main street near the outskirts crowd
ed with people and motor cars.
| Look at that crowd" spoke up the
mayor.
Whats the big idea?" inquired
Roy.
They're waiting for the towns
mented Harry.
We approached the crowd. A hun
dred eyes turned from the fire long
| enough to give Roys chariot the once
over. Then they began to recognize
House." How are you, Elmer" Hi.
there, old man. they shot at him from
various parts of the audience.
Jay bowed, grinned, waved his
! hands in true T. R. style and we pass
ed on down the street He was the
proudest man in Kansas-even tho he
did wear flannel shirt, a gray sweat
er and a SLOUGH cap in lieu of his
Kansas avenue immaculate attire.
! I was talking to Don Wells later
about the incident
What does Jay say about the old
| town anyway he asked.
| He's all praise 1 replied.
| Cad. I'm glad to hear it," Wells re-
marked. You know Jay has always
! hated the town until recent years.
Now I believe he is learning to like it.
It's a good sign, too. because there
aren't very many things that cynical
scamp approves off,
We were driving up the yellow
marked street in Chanute Just after
being unable to find Herb Cavaness
at home-or rather at his office.
Herb is type of the many Kansas
publishers who finds time to spend
large part of his year away from
the office and also finds to his great
surprise that the paper runs along
better without him. We passed a lit
tie old-time shattered shop. Jay
pressed his face against the glass of
the car.
See that dump there" he said
THAT is the home of the Chanute
Daily World. 1t is now the cemetery
one of the many-of one of my
various ambitions
Later I wormed the story out of a
Chanute old timer
House, so the story goes, while yet
a youngster, purchased, after borrow
ing $50 from Seth Wells, a collection
of newspaper material. The $50 was
| spent mostly in travelling expenses
hunting up this material in other
towns He saw a great future in a
| daily newspaper at Chanute.
After accommodating his type and
! press and a hand-picked assortment
of debts, he began issuing the Chanute
Daily World. Following a week of
the venture. in order to pay off his
help, he made a cooperative concern
out of his daily. In other words, af-
ter he and his printer and his re-
porter and his two girls had spent
| Saturday afternoon in making COL
| lections and accepting the returns of
the paper carriers, the money was
divided up. If each received enough
| to pay his board bill, we'll enough
| If not-another Saturday was coming
and the bills would have to wait.
After about two months Jay was
| approached rather severely by his
| boarding and rooming house keeper.
1t resulted in Jays belongings being
| locked in his room.
Now, it seems that for several weeks
| Editor House had been solicited daily
| by young man, an Episcopalian
rector's son, who wanted a lob as a
reporter. He had worked some place
| in the south and was staying with his
parents in Chanute. Jay saw an OPP
portunlty. he hunted up the am
/ bilious reporter.
/ Want a job on the World ?" he in
| quired of him.
| "Betcha." was the youthful reply.
| How would you like to take the
paper and run it?" House questioned.
| The boys eyes glistened.
Nothing would suit me better" he
exclaimed.
'-AH right" House said. "Give me
ten dollar bill and you can have the
| plant, circulation, furniture and
everything that goes with it,
The boy rushed home to his mother
procured the money, ran breathlessly
| down town and forced it into the hun
CRY editors hands.
THE shop is yours House said as
he put on his hat and coat. There is
some paper down in the express Of
flee waiting for payment The rest
| of the bills you'll find there in the