Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 September 1894 — MONEY TO BURN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MONEY TO BURN.

BY CHAS. H. DAY. ®W Journalist.

LHERE was considerable talk in the city room the first day that Clarence" Holt . made his appearance ' there and began Jiis work on the “Daily Sensation." He made his entry accompa- . nied by his father, a

stockholder in the paper and the business manager, and was introduced to the city editor. While they were chatting the oldest reporter in the room, a chronic kicker, growled: “Well, here comes another favorite to be foisted upon the city man. He’ll be a pet. of course; his old man is a stockholder and has got money to burn.” 7 Further controversy anc} retort was interrupted by the approach of the city editor, who left his desk to introduce Clarence Holt to the members of the staff, who greeted him according to their various dispositions. Young Holt returned to the editor’s desk, and his father and the business manager having gone he said to the latest addition to the staff of the “Sensation.” “I believe you have had some little experience in writing?” “I have done no news work, but have written some stories for publication which have been published and paid for.” When he said “paid for” he put a bit of emphasis on the words. - “When your father first broached the subject of your coming here he gave me some samples of your work to read. Your descriptive powers are very good and you have a keen sense of humor. “Now what I most need on my staff is a good writer of special articles. Now, if you can produce rapidly and graphically, you can begin your career well up the ladder, although I shall make some deadly enemies on the staff by giving you the opportunity. “In the exigency of daily publication you must do rush work, but not poor work. You will not have time or opportunity for rewriting and polishing as the great lights of literature are presumed to lavish on their efforts.” Clarence Holt nodded his head, and the editor further said: “But you have one thing to encourage you, and you can well afford to serve an apprenticeship and stand the eternal grind. It is only a mere matter of time when you will have a paper of your own, as your father is well fixed —has money to burn.” “I’ve come hereto learn the way and will succeed if it is in me to, but don’t youthink that to start off you are overestimating my abilities? 1 want to be taken for what lam and for what 1 can do. Don’t let my father’s interest in this paper cut any figure with you.” “Good! Now what I want you to do is tq go to the Olympic Theater and interview one of the chorus girls. You must find one who has an interesting life history, something romantic.”

11. The comic opera of “Cupid” had proven a success and everybody he was to meet was in the best of humor, shading hands with others — and himself. “Now-it happened that the author of the libretto was a journalist and he immediately came to the new reporter's rescue with: “Just hold on a little while I ruh around a bit. I’ve had a heap of experience in this sort of thing and I may be able to help you out.” Prettv soon the author came back and said: “By jove, I’ve found her and she’s as pretty as a peach. The stage* manager knows all about her, comes of a good family, once had plenty of money—money to burn —hasn’t got it now. Father dropped dead in some way. Hang around and I will point her out to you. Why, there she is; that stately looking creature. Superb!” The stage manager brought, the young lady forward and introduced her. “Miss Ethel Allen.” “Mr. Holt, of the ‘Sensation.’” Miss Allen and Mr. Holt said something about “pleased to meet” atid thc success of the opera, and-of course referred to the weather. The stage manager put an end to the talk by calling the next scene and the rehearsal proceeded rapidly with suggestions from the author and composer. When the rehearsal was over Ethel Allen came shyly up to Clarence Holt and said: “Now, Mr. Newspaperman, I am at your mercy.” “As this is about meal time and you must be hungry," he replied, “I suggest that I walk along with you to your home, if you have no objections, as you know it is a part of my errand to see a chorus girl at home-.”—-——— The pair walked a block in awkward silence, for Clarence Holt was rather a bashful fellow, and the situation was a novel one. Ethel Allen ‘was the first to break the ice. “Have you been a journalist long?” The young man laughed outright at th 6 question. “I make my start as a reporter today.” The young lady laughed, too. Before another block was gone

Ethel Allen was telling something of herself and her family, speaking mostly of her parents. “Papa was very well off, once, and in a prosperous 1 business. By a bit of sharp practice, which I cannot understand, a partner of his in a transaction mapaged to make the money and leave papa in the lurch, a broken man, just at the time that he thought of retiring. “As the saying goes, there was a great ‘come-down’ for the Allen family, and father had to go to clerking and begin life all over again,, In all his distress he managed to educate me. I am fond of music, blessed .with a voice, and here I am, a member of the chorus of ‘Cupid.’ ” “Why. indeed, that is a romance in real life,” said the reporter. “It may be a romance to you, but to me it is a reality without the romance,” said the girl, with a tinge of sadness in her voice.

The Allen family had already dined, and the chorus girl’s father entertained the reporter in the parlor with a precise account of his financial .ruin and-, the -direct cause that led to it. Clarence Holt made copious notes, and informed the defrauded merchant: . ' “I have got the whole transaction down to a dot. Could you favor me with the name of the villain that wronged you?” “That would be libelous, you know, and involve your paper in litigation,” “Oh, yes,” exclaimed the new reporter, “I see that would never do. The story is strong enough without the name.” Clarence Holt had been invited to dine, but had declined. It was not his dining hour, but he wanted to see Miss Allen “for a few more questions.” When the girl of the chorus appeared he forgot all about the questions, but he said instead how pleased he had been to meet her and how pleased he had been to meet her father, who had “suffered such wrongs at the hands of an unprincipled scoundrel.” There was fire in his eye as he added: “But I’ll show him up in away that will make him wince.”

111. There was an unusual demand for the “Sensation” the next morning, such an extra call that the man in the counting room at last had his curiosity so much aroused that he asked. “What makes the ‘Sensation’ go so this morning?” “Why, ain’t you on to it?” said a purchaser. “You’ll hear from it soon enough. Just read this article, ‘A Chorus Girl’s Romance.’ Just skip the first part of it and get down to the digging up of a skeleton, an exposure of how old man Allen, the girl’s father, was done out of his fortune. The whole town has got it, and there’ll be the deuce to pay in your office.. You hear me!” When the business manager came in he was frothing at the mouth like a mad dog, and the language that he used was dreadful. “Send the city editor to me,” he screamed, “the moment he arrives." Angry voices were heard in the managers private room, but the senior Holt was doing the most of the swearing. When the city editor came, he was summoned, and lie responded promptly, and appeared before the council. Holt, senior, was the spokesman. Thrusting forth the paper, he demanded: “Who wrote this article?” “Your son,” was the answer, “the best first attempt I ever saw; you should be proud of it and him.” The rich Mr. Holt, the man with money to burn, sank into his chair and gasped for breath; after awhile he managed to stammer: “That —is —all.” A prolonged hush fell over the assembly; it was an awkward spell of silehce. With an effort the rich Mr. Holt spoke as if in apology: “It was a business transaction, that was all. I got the best of the bargain, nothing more. If I robbed Allen, where is the law to punish me?” Everyone present knew how skilfully he had kept within legal bounds and out of the reach of the law. As he stumbled out, he turned and whispered hoarsely: “For God’s sake, gentlemen, not a word of this to my son.” IV. Clarence Holt had been told that the article was a success and thereafter he accepted many importan assignments, all of which he filled jxtitK. credit, to himself a.ud..tlu? .paper*. The city editor kept him busy with special stories, and when his father died and he inherited a fortune he was financially and practically able to embark in newspaper publication on his own account. Upto this time he had kept up his acquaintance with Ethel Allen and saw her advance step by step until she became the prima donna of the Olympic Theater. Then he asked her to retire from the stage and become an editor’s wife. Even the manager, who was at first almost inconsolable at the thought of parting with a treasure, became reconciled at the wisdom of her choice and course. “After all it is the best for both of them. Ethel Allen is a jewel with beauty and virtue, and Clarence Holt is as good as they make them; besides, he’s got money to burn.”