The reporter produced a long printed slip and handed it to Uncle Jerry, who took it and began to read. As his eye ran down the column he was apparently more and more interested, and he let it be shown on his face that he was surprised, and even a little astonished. When he had finished, he said:
“Well, my young friend, how did you get hold of this?”
“Oh, we have a way,” said the reporter, twirling his straw hat by the elastic, and looking more knowing than old Jerry himself.
“So I see,” replied Jerry, with an admiring smile; “there is nothing that you newspaper folks don't find out. It beats the devil!”
“Is it true, sir?” said the young gentleman, elated with this recognition of his own shrewdness.
“It is so true that there is no fun in it. I don't see how the devil you got hold of it.”
“Have you any explanations?”
“No, I guess not,” said Uncle Jerry, musingly. “If it is to come out, I'd rather The Planet would have it than any, other paper. It's got some sense. No; print it. It'll be a big beat for your paper. While you are about it—I s'pose you'll print it anyway?” (the reporter nodded)—“you might as well have the whole story.”
“Certainly. We'd like to have it right. What is wrong about it?”
“Oh, nothing but some details. You have got it substantially. There's a word or two and a date you are out on, naturally enough, and there are two or three little things that would be exactly true if they were differently stated.”