Illustration: “NOW THEN, YOU NEW BOY--WHAT’S YOUR NAME?” _From Office Boy To Reporter_ FROM OFFICE BOY TO REPORTER OR THE FIRST STEP IN JOURNALISM BY HOWARD R. GARIS AUTHOR OF “THE WHITE CRYSTALS,” “THE ISLE OF BLACK FIRE,” “WITH FORCE AND ARMS,” ETC. _ILLUSTRATED_ New York GROSSET & DUNLAP Publishers COPYRIGHT, 1907 BY CHATTERTON-PECK COMPANY _From Office Boy to Reporter_ PREFACE MY DEAR BOYS:-- I have tried to write for you a story of newspaper life and tell how a boy, who started in the lowest position,--that of a copy carrier,--rose to become a reporter. The newspaper covers a wide field, and enters into almost every home, telling of the doings of all the world, including that which takes place right in our midst. There are many persons in the business, which is an interesting and fascinating one. I have been actively engaged in it for nearly sixteen years, and I have seen many strange happenings. Some of these I have set down in this book for you to read, and I hope you will like them. There are many things which I had not the time or space to tell about, and which may be related in other books of this series. There have been written many good stories of newspaper life and experiences. I trust I may have added one that will appeal especially to you boys. If I have, I will feel amply repaid for what I have done. Yours with best wishes, HOWARD R. GARIS. January 10, 1907. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. FORECLOSING THE MORTGAGE 1 II. BAD NEWS 9 III. LOOKING FOR WORK 18 IV. LARRY AND THE REPORTER 26 V. LARRY SECURES WORK 36 VI. LARRY MAKES AN ENEMY 46 VII. THE MISSING COPY 53 VIII. PETER IS DISCHARGED 62 IX. LARRY GETS A STORY 70 X. LARRY MEETS HIS ENEMY 79 XI. LARRY HAS A FIGHT 87 XII. A STRANGE ASSIGNMENT 95 XIII. UNDER THE RIVER 104 XIV. LARRY’S SUCCESS 113 XV. LARRY GOES TO SCHOOL 121 XVI. LARRY AT A STRIKE 130 XVII. TAKEN PRISONER 139 XVIII. HELD CAPTIVE 148 XIX. LARRY’S MOVEMENTS 156 XX. BACK AT WORK 165 XXI. LARRY ON THE WATCH 173 XXII. TRAPPING A THIEF 181 XXIII. BAD MONEY 189 XXIV. A QUEER CAPTURE 197 XXV. A BIG ROBBERY 205 XXVI. THE MEN IN THE LOT 214 XXVII. LARRY IS REWARDED 222 XXVIII. THE RENOWNED DOCTOR 233 XXIX. THE OPERATION 241 XXX. THE FLOOD 249