The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-09-09
NEA SERVICE nc.

Well, there remained the ver1f1-
cation of neighborhood gossip. And
certainly the grounds were extern
sive enough to make the place valu-
able, that is, If the far-stretching
fields and wooded lots he saw be-
longed to the Cunningham estate.
He drove on, looking ahead for
a gas station or garage. A glance
at the gasoline gauge on the in
strumental panel indicated that his
fuel was getting low.
That was just what he wanted.
At the station he stopped again and
asked for gas and water, and then
decided he's have a cup of coffee
at the lunch stand.
He was in no hurry about venA
turing forth in the rain once more.
Over the coffee and a package of
cigarets he fell into conversation
with the man behind the counter
Fortunately for Brent the young
fellow was in a mood for talking.
Business had been light all day and
there had been little conversation
in his small, steamy eating place.
Brent said he represented news
paper syndicate in New York. Out
on a story about the old families
of the east. Doing New York and
vicinity at present.
l. Some day you picked" the other
commented.
Best kind of weather." Brent ex-
planned. Find people where you
expect them. Ready to talk, toe"
We'll, if you're looking for some
body to talk you go see old man
Brute at the Three Corners drug
store. He'll tell you plenty. That
old fellows been here all his life.
Worked in that same store since
he was a kid.
Its his boast that he knows
everything of Importance that's
happened around here in the last
fifty years. He'll give you the low
down on the old families, all right. "
THANKS" Brent said gratefully.
u That's fine lead Well,
how much do owe you? I'd better
catch Brute when he isn't likely
to be busy"
He paid for his coffee with a
dollar bill, and when the change
was handed him he also received
directions for finding the Three
Corners drug store.
AS he expected, the place was all
but deserted. Brent asked at once
for Mr.. Brute and introduced him
self, with a flattering playup to the
mans vanity.
Il was sent to you. Mr.. Brute, -
he said, because my people were
told that your long association with
the prominent families of this COM
munity has put you in a position
to afford us information that we
can get from no other source"
Mr.. Brute beamed a trifie. yes
he said, Il am an old resident here
I've sen families come and 60. !
guess 1 could tell you some things
Newspaper story, you say?"
Yes, quite number of them
You see, America is losing its
aristocracy, or rather, I should say
there are so many new people OF
wealth and influence that the old
families who built the country are
being forgotten by the masses.
We are making an effort to re-
create their lives in print for the
public, make them real and
well, you understand. Intimate
stories. The kind that draw people
closer to those they're reading about.
Anecdotes, things like that. Human
interest"
Il see," Mr.. Brute said, a bit
vaguely.
And no one can aid us more
than some one who has had close
contact with. our subjects" Brent
went on. Now you, Mr. Brute
in your position here, must have
found yourself personally acquiring
knowledge Of the prominent families
in Yonkers that will be of much
more interest to the public than
mere data that can be obtained
from records.
Haven't you, for instance. been
called upon at times to fulfill the
office of doctor, lawyer, judge?"
Brent smiled ingratiatingly and
Mr.. Brute expanded promisingly.
"Of course, of course" he agreed:
but can't betray any condolences
mind you
Certainly not" Brent assured
him emphaticallv Eve roilldf1'f