Harper's Round Table, November 19, 1895

Copyright, 1895, by Harper & Brothers. All Rights Reserved.

THEN, WITH MUCH LABOR AND DIFFICULTY, HE PICKED HIMSELF UP AND CRAWLED TOWARD THE GATE.
When Fred Hallowell graduated from school in the spring of 1893, and passed his final examinations for college, there was every promise that he would have an enjoyable summer vacation followed by four years of pleasant college life. But owing to the panic of 1893 Mr. Hallowell failed in business, and Fred found that instead of going to college he must look about for some sort of position, in order that he might not be an additional drain on the very greatly reduced resources of his parents.
It is not a part of this story to tell of Fred's discouraging endeavors to secure a position in New York. Business men were discharging employés in those days, not engaging new ones. Finally, he managed, through an old acquaintance, to secure a position as reporter on the staff of the Gazette . He started into his new life with an energy that soon attracted the attention of his employers, and it was not long before the city editor began to feel that the new reporter was a reliable man.
The week before Thanksgiving Fred made a few extra dollars by writing a short article for one of the illustrated weeklies, and as Thursday was his regular day off he decided that he would use this money to take a little trip up the Hudson to his home, and spend Thanksgiving day with his family. He had just mailed his letter, announcing his intention to visit home, when the city editor called him to his desk and handed him a clipping from one of the morning papers, which stated that a certain Frenchman, suspected of being prominent in anarchistic circles, had visited a French school-ship, then anchored in the North River, and that the officers had recognized him as a dangerous criminal, a fugitive from French justice.
This may be one of the Star 's fakes, said the city editor, but you go out on the story, and keep at it until you get all the facts. It may take you several days. If you find it's true, we'll make a spread of it, and have the fellow arrested.