A PAPER CHASE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 15, 8 May 1914, Page 2

A PAPER CHASE.

WIN FOR THE RUNNER-BOY. Paper-boys are a much maligned body. Probably they’ share with the newspaper-itself some of the alleged opprobrium attaching to the “Fourth Estate,” a,si was imputed to it by a recent well-known visiting politician Horn the Windy City! Be this as it may, there is a story to be told of the mighty injustice done to one of our runners just recently. Donn on the East Road there is a muchrespected supporter of the “Stratford Evening Post’” and on this particular evening there must have been in it some item peculiarly interesting to him* (or can it be that the “Post is to him part and parcel of Ins daily routine?) At any rate, the facts are something like this: A\hen the subscriber went to got the “Post” out of his box on the roadside, there was no paper. He was very angry, and returned to the house and at once donned his hat and saddled up the best and fleetest horse in the stable and hied him away to Stratford to the home of the paper-boy. But to thoioughly appreciate the joke, it must here be explained that while the boy was on his round he met a son of the aforesaid subscriber, and in response to a request for the paper—“which would save him going along the road to father’s box”—the boy handed over the “Post.” By this time, the old man was arguing the point with the hoy’s mother and father in Stratford, where he arrived hatless, and soon the innocent paper-boy came upon the scene and was drawn into the discussion. “You didn’t leave my paper.” was the greeting lie received from the subscriber. “I. did,” be replied; “1 gave it to your son in the gig.” ‘Aon didn’t,” snapped the man; “my sou is in Stratford.” Words rose higher between the parties, but the East Reader could get no satisfaction, and he retraced his steps out East. During liis absence from homo, however, members of his family, at a loss to know what had become of him, instituted a search of the neighborhood, and had about given him up tor lost when he returned home in none too amiable a frame of mind. In the meantime, the son arrived home with the “Post,” explanations followed, and the air was clean'd. On the following day, being Sunday, than which no better day can he found for good deeds, lie walked to Stratford to the paper-hoy’s home, and meeting him, humbly apologised for his hasty action, at the same time handing him a “Colonial Robert,” This kindly action will be further appreciated when it is stated that on the first journe.v of his chase after the paper In* lost his hat valued at seven and sixpence. The moral of this story would-seem to be—’When you chase a penny paper, first secure your hat!