Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1912 — HE DIDN’T MAKE THE CALL [ARTICLE]

HE DIDN’T MAKE THE CALL

flu office Boy Left “HlgglnW* N 9 Alternative but to “Beat It,” and He Did. .Vit?*,!Boring the recent visit to New York! of Robert 8. Hichens, the English novelist, he wished to call upon the man* aging editor of a Park Row paper. Just at that time any paper one pick* ed up had an interview with Hichens. Besides, the editor and he were friends. So that Hichens—not bav-; Ing experienced the Park kow office hoy—thought he would have no dUH-.. culty in Invading the sanctum. “Takei —-haw —my card to the managing editor,” said he to the office boy. That grimy functionary holds hia job by seeing to it that not one card in ten presented to him ever gets anywhere. He casts a coldly suspicious eye upon the novelist. The latter was dolled up in his Piccadilly clothes, carried a cane, wore spats, and shot & monocle from his right eye in astonishment at the urchin’s impertinence. “Whadda yuh wanta see him fur?" asked the boy? - Mr. Hichens tried to wither the boy. Only unwitherable boys last on Park How. He ordered the boy to go in with that card. The boy said in New Yorkese that there would be nothing’ doin’ until he found out why Hichens wanted to see the editor. Mr. Hichens had! an inspiration. “I am an English journalist,” said he. “Give my card and tell him that I wish to write a series of articles on New York for his paper.” - The boy disappeared behind a, screen. Mr. Hichens smiled happily at the thought of the merry laughter with which his friend, the editor, would receive the statement. Pretty soon Mr. Hichens heard the,voice of the office boy. “Guy out here named Higgins,” said the boy, “says ha wants a job.” The voice of an unseen and hard worked man replied that no jobs were open to any Higginses. The hoy handed a thumb smudged card hack to Mr. Hichens. “Nothin’ doin’ ” said he, indifferently, and buried himself in his late edition. \' “But—” began Mr. Hichens, indignantly. ' “G’wan, now,” said the hoy, brusquely. “Beat It, Higgins.” And so Mr. Hichens did.