Part 3 (1/2)

Richard's stay on The Record, however, was short-lived His excuse for the brevity of the experience was given in an interview some years later ”My City Editor didn't like loves But he was deternments a day, and paid ed me as incompetent”

From The Record Richard went to The Press, which was , and, indeed it was here that he did his first real work and showed his first pro and during this tireat deal more personal success than comes tochance came with the Johnstown flood, and the news stories he wired to his paper showed the first gliuised as a crook, he joined a gang of yeggmen, lived with theained their good opinion to the extent of being allowed to assist in planning a burglary But before the actual robbery took place, Richard had obtained enough evidence against his crook companions to turn them over to the police and eventually land the these days that he wrote his first story for aof a ust, 1888

DEAR FAMILY:

The St Nicholas people sent me a check for 50 for the ”pirate” story

It would be insupportable affectation to say that I was not delighted

Jennings Crute and I aiting for breakfast when I found the letter I opened it very slowly, for I feared they would bluff me with so azine There was a letter inside and a check

I read the letter before I looked at the check, which I supposed would be for 30, as the other story was valued at 20 The note said that a perfect gentleman named Chichester would be pleased if I would find enclosed a check for 50 I looked at Jenny helplessly, and said, ”It's for fifty, Jenny” Crute had an insane look in his eyes as he murmured ”half a hundred dollars, and on your day off, too” Then I sat down suddenly and wondered what I would buy first, and Crute sat in a dazed condition, and abstractedly took a handful of segars out of the box dear old Dad gave , he took another handful, and then sat down and gazed at the check for five minutes in awe After breakfast I calculated how much I would have after I paid my debts I still owe say 23, and I have sooing over to New York and buying soo to Bond's and Baker's instead

I' down street now to see if Drexel wants to borrow any ready money-on the way doill make purchases and pay bills so that ot a story on the front page thisabout an explosion at Columbia Avenue Station--I went out on it with another man my senior in years and experience, whom Watrous expected to write the story while I hustled for facts When we got back I had all the facts, and what little he had was incorrect--so I said I would dispense with his services and write the story myself I did it very politely, but it queered the rew very sarcastic at his expense Next tiet my own stories alone

Your Millionaire Son,

dick

I'm still the ”same old dick”; not proud a bit

This was ust 1888

DEAR dick:

Your letter has just cohted Well done for old St Nicholas! I thought they meant to wait till the story was published It took ot 50 for ”Life in the Iron Mills” I carried the letter half a day before opening it, being so sure that it was a refusal

I had a great mind to read the letter to Davis and Cecile ere on the porch but was afraid you would not like it

I did read them an extremely impertinent enclosure which was so like the letter I sent yesterday That I think you got it before writing this

Well I aher? That is by far the best work you've done--oh, by far--Send that to Gilder In old times The Century would not print the word ”brandy” But those days are over

Two more days--dear boy--

MOTHER

In addition to his work on The Press, Richard also found time to assist his friend, Morton McMichael, 3d, in the editing of a weekly publication called The Stage In fact with the exception of the services of an office boy, McMichael and Richard were The Stage