Monmouth High School - Maroon and Gold Yearbook (Monmouth, IL)

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.. .... .........i .... ..,. :FMU.E........gif..E.Hug..UHE...:il...lF..E....T..Hi....3..5...5.,......... ... . interests in the west. It is reported that 'he has bought him out, but no one can get the straight dope. Our best reporters have failed in this job. Here is your chance. If you succeed you will be rewarded. You have until next Monday night to give us a full story. Good-bye, good luck. Henry was so bewildered he did not know what to do. Gradually he awoke to the fact that here was his chance to make good. With renewed enthusiasm he set out to get the story. He found it impossible to get thru the impregnable defense of office boys at the offices of McNamara Xt Co. Day after day he tried but with no success. Finally, discouraged, he went for a long walk in the residence district and tried to plan some way to see Mr. McNamara. One very impressive looking home especially attracted his attention. Upon approaching the stone block on the curb, he saw the name McNamara. While he was there he saw a man past middle age approach an upstairs window and pull down the curtain. That must be my quarry, murmured Henry. He knew that it was useless to try to gain entrance through that large plate glass door. That night, in his room, he hit upon a desperate plan. It was worth trying. Things couldn't be worse. On Wednesday morning, the last day of grace, Henry was on hand at the McNamara home obout four o'clock armed with a long ladder. Stealthily he approached the house, raised the ladder to the window where he had seen the man the day before, and started upward. When he reached the window he saw that a bed was near the window and the man was serenely sleeping upon it. Noiselessly he raised the window, entered the room, and took on position of vantage astride the prostrate form of Mr. McNamara. To say the least, Mr. McNamara upon awakening, was surprised and greatly annoyed. He started a terrified yell which was quickly muffled by a handkerchief stuffed in his mouth by Henry. Soon he quieted down and lay glaring at Henry who still maintained his position. 'I'm here for business, sir, said Henry. 'Tm a cub reporter for the Morning Sun, and I want your story of the deal between you and Gibson. I admit this is sort of a crude way of getting it, but it means a lot to me. It's my chance to make good. I intend to stay he-re until I get the story or get thrown out. Do I get the story ? An emphatic shake of the head answered his question. They glared at each other for some time in silence, then the older man motioned for Henry to remove the handkerchief from his mouth. ' Well, young man, he said, when the handkerchief had been removed, this is rather serious busi- ness, breaking into a man's house and making demands of him. Yes it is, said Henry, but I have to have that story. They remained silent again until gradually the ridiculousness of the situation began to dawn upon them. Hal Ha! Hal laughed Mr. McNamara, this is one on me. Indeed it is, said Henry who was still perched upon the older man. Soon they were laughing like good fellows. You win, son, said the older man, finally, you get the story. Thank you so much, sir. It is really important to me. I was willing to take long chances. I am sorry if I have caused you any inconvenience. Nothing very serious, replied Mr. McNamara, do you know, I had determined to give my story to the paper today anyway, so I am glad to give it to you. As soon as I dress, we will go down and have breakfast together. An hour later Henry left the house in the best of spirits and with the story in his coat pocket. He hastened to the office, copied his story and turned it over to the editor. The editor, dazed with the success of the cub reporter, was profuse in thanks and words of admiration. The next day Henry's parents received the following telegram: Will be home tomorrow for two weeks' vacation on full pay. Am leaving newspaper officer Have accepted position of private secretary to McNamara Sz Co.fHenry. CHARLES LAWRENCE, '23 .I 1I.....................................................l..-.. H . -mm I...-mln.. I Page Eighty-Four

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. ................................ The Cub Reporter Henry Jones was just graduating from High School, and like many young men of his age was casting about for some occupation so that he might support himself and his parents. They were a family in moderate circumstances but since the factory in which Mr. Jones had worked had closed down nearly a year before, it had been pretty hard work for them to make both ends meet. Hen- ry knew that they had sacrificed so that he might stay in school, so he determined that he must make good in some line of work in order to in some measure repay them. He decided to give up all hope of going to college: which hope he had cherished for years However, they had sacrificed for him, and now it was his turn. The town in which they lived was a very small town, and like most small towns afforded no great opportunities for young men. There was a factory but now that was closed. Besides that, there was nothing but perhaps work in a grocery store or a lumber yard. Neither of these jobs looked very enticing to Henry. Mr. Hopkins, Principal of the High School, had become interested in Henry and had asked him to come and consult him concerning his future work. He decided to go to see Mr. Hopkins at once. On Monday evening Henry called on Mr. Hopkins. Come right in, said Mr. Hopkins. I thought I am glad you came, Henry, I may I would follow your suggestion to come and talk to you. he able to be of help to you and I may not. Have you decided on anything definite as yet? No, I have not. I have thought of become. I had thought pretty seriously You had some experience along that Yes, I edited the school paper last After a prolonged conversation it was decided that Mr. Hopkins would communicate of his, Mr. Smith, who lived in a near-by city and see if he could obtain a position for many different jobs but the more I think the more undecided I however, of newspaper work. line in school did you not? inquired Mr. Hopkins. year and enjoyed the work immensely, answered Henry. with a friend Henry in 'the office of the Morning Sun, which paper Mr. Smith owned. A few days later Mr. Hopkins phoned Henry that he had received a reply from Mr. Hen ry reached Smith. When Mr. Hopkin's house, he learned, much to his surprise and joy, that he was to be given a chance as reporter for the Morning Sun. After thanking Mr. Hopkins for his kindness, he hurried home at once to tell the news to his parents. I've a position at last, Mother, he exclaimed. 'Tm glad, Henry, that you have a position, but I hate to have you leave home. Don't worry, Mother, I'll get along fine, and I'll come home as often as possible. The following Monday, Henry reported at the office of the Morning Sun. Mr. Johnson, the city editor, to whom Henry's letter of introduction was addressed, was seated at a desk at the far end of a long, narrow room which was cluttered up with desks and waste paper baskets. At the desk was a proof-reader, reading allg accepting some: and throwing out many writings which were submitted. Down stairs the great presses were running. making a terrible racket. Henry felt very small indeed, standing there alone. No one paid any heed to him, so he proceeded to the desk of the city editor. Are you Mr. Johnson 7 he asked of the man seated there. Yes, said the man. Here is a letter of introduction, sir. Mr. Johnson adjusted his glasses and glanced thru the letter. Any experience Y he inquired. A little in High School, sir, replied Henry. Mr. Johnson turned him over to an assistant who showed him to the desk which he was to occupy when he was writing up his reports. The following weeks were weeks of misery for Henry. Try as he would he could not get much news and could not all they were couraged when No, sir, You soon the steel man, satisfactorily write up that which he did get. If his articles appeared in the paper at changed so much that he could scarcely recognize them. He was getting pretty dis- one day the editor rushed into the room in a fury. Are you busy '! he barked. replied Henry. will be theng now listen. We have been trying for weeks to get a ltory from McNamara, as to what he is going to do in his big deal with Ginson, who is trying to buy his mining nmmmmmll- l -------um I- -.ll -- . -H..-......m....lml................um....mm-ll-........... Page Eighty-Three

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