e personal
success than comes to most members of that usually anonymous
profession. His big chance came with the Johnstown flood, and the news
stories he wired to his paper showed the first glimpse of his ability
as a correspondent. Later on, disguised as a crook, he joined a gang
of yeggmen, lived with them in the worst dives of the city, and
eventually gained 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 them in
prison. It was during these days that he wrote his first story for a
magazine, and the following letter shows that it was something of a
milestone in his career.

PHILADELPHIA.

August, 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 were waiting for breakfast when I found the
letter. I opened it very slowly, for I feared they would bluff me with
some letter about illustrations or revision, or offering me a reduced
subscription to the magazine. 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 me. As I didn't say anything, 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 some shoes to pay for and my
hair to cut. I had a wild idea of going over to New York and buying
some stocks, but I guess I'll go to Bond's and Baker's instead.

I'm going down street now to see if Drexel wants to borrow any ready
money-on the way down I will make purchases and pay bills so that my
march will be a triumphal procession.

I got a story on the front page this morning about an ex