The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-06-30
CHAPTER VIII.
SOMETHING DnMON1ACAL.

!
Chow d'you do to-day, Mr.. Gray:'' asked
Touey Barnes. entering the editors
sanctum few days after the events in
the last chapter.
"Rather tired; be seated" Allen an
swered, casting a suspicious look at a pom
derous roll under Toncy's arm.
"I thought would bring you story, he
said, with triumphant smile 81 heard you
was going to use one of Miss Hopkins
novels, SO I thought I'd bring you some
thing worth publishing, if you must have
serial"
Allen assured him that he was in no need
OF any thing Of the kind ,and had never for
moment entertained a thought of publishing
t Miss Hopkins story.
s:Not agoin' to publish it!'' cried the
amazed Toney; "why, it's all over the town
and country, too, that you intend runnin'
her novel as a serial in the Western Repub
Hc.''
| CIT is q mistake.''
"I thought SO Nothi1' she writes is fit
to be in print said Toney, somewhat acri-
moniously. Essays she used to contribute
to Harper, but I guess twas to their waste
basket
| :sThe number of waste basket contrib
utors is much greater than those fEhose
papers are published"
Yes, { suppose so; out no one likes to
write for the EDITORS waste basket; it don't
usually pay,' returned Ioney. But let
me read you a FEW chapters OF The Bloody
Knife, or the Wild Witch. of the Santee
| Bcrder.'n
lit would not be worth while, 'Toney, Tor
all our space is engaged Every inch that
| can be spared from news will be devoted to
advertisements"
! t'Who wants to read advertisements"
said Toney, with a look Of disgust.
"Ihev are invaluablt> to a country news
paper They bring in considerable money,
and without them we could hardly exist"
/ II suppose it g money and not talent you
want,'' sarcasiically returned the author.
Allen smiled, and then in very, calm
manner proceeded to explain that this is 81
very practical world, and one could not
conduct business without doing so on bust
ness principles. His story might be very
good, and just what some other publisher
wanted who was willing TO pay a good price
for it, but it was value|ess to him.
, "a dealer in dry-g goods wants to buy dry
goods, and can not be induced to purchase
potatoes, no matter how good the quality
or how cheap they may be offered him. No
matter how good your serial may be, can
not use it.''
Toney's disappointment was considerably
alleviated by the knowledge that Miss Hop
kins' story had teen rejected also. Alter
the political campaign was over, the editor
though he might possibly be able to use
serial, and if he found himself in suen
position, would be pleased To look-sat Toneys
manuscript.
! Gathering up that ponderous roll, the
disappointed autllor left the Office with q
sigh. He was not the first: nor will he be
the last, author to heave signs of disappoint-
meut. Oh, We hard-hearted publishers,
what dark account will yours be, when
all the signs and tears Of disappointed
authors are arrayed against you on that
final dayi
A. day or two later, while Allen was
struggling between an article for the up
building Of Turkeys Point and TIE mystery
of the great stone house Gu the hin,
he heard heavy step at his side and, LOOK
ing up, saw Mr. Strong.
"I'm not agwine to stand it, cried
Strong, angrily.
AS rnildly as he could, the country eottor
asked for an explanation.
1.Yer playin' mo foul"
s'You are laboring under grave NUS
take,'' Allen returned, making y great Ell
fort to keep his temper.
"No, I'm not; fur know We ar. Didn't
We promise me far an squar' ye'd support
me fur sheriff."
! "Xas'
can yer gwine t. 60 back on 1neF'
emo, I'm not; unless you provoke me into
breaking ny promise, you will receive Che
support Of the 1Ves&r2e Republic"
"But they've got the yarn gwine all over
the country that yer pledged to Tom Sim
mons"
"For sheriff, am pledged to no one but
yourself, Mr. Strong and at the proper time
you shall receive my hearty support said
Allen, rising to his feet, his face flushed
with excitement. "Now, pay no attention
to the stories you hear, and keep your in
tentions to Yourself, until the time has come
for YOU to make your announcement"
s'I understand Well, eff yer gwine to
stand true to me- it's all right, but ct ye DO
go back on me, I'm agwlne to knock the
props right out from under We, an let ye
| fall hard enough to break yer own neck;
now we understand one another, don't wet"
81 think we do"
"Very well, good-day."
"Good morning, sir"
Although pledges had been renewed, and
the ambitious candidate for sheriff had been
treasured, it was evident that be was not
fully satisfied. Both himself and Tom Sim
mons were suspicious; unconsciously judg-
| ing all men by their own standard, they
were suspicious of every body. Each feared
| that some powerful influence, that great
unknown pressure which pohtician4early
| come to dread, would be brought to bear
upon the editor to ALLEVIATE him.
They watched each other with hawk-like
| ewes, and one never went to the printing
| Office that tn Q other did not notice him, and
ct once surmise that he had come to buy OF
the editor. Each had vague belief that
l the other wa to be an opponent for the
Office to which he himself aspired. That
they should be candidates for different
L Offices never entered into the mind OF