Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-02-10

uerSmp IN DnlS business, JIllnklnB you,
too, were also too Shakespearean in style
for this section, but find I'm mistaken.
It's an elegant little article-not word
too little OF too understanding to
catch the eyes of the scissors men all
over the country. My dear boy, you've
struck your line. Nothing Shakespear-
can about it. Don't leave it for any
other. I'd take you in with me here
and make an even whack, but I'd be do
ing an injustice to the fraternity at
large"
The man had such queer streaks about
linn that l couldn't make up my mind
whether he was a robber, as he claimed,
Or had gone daft over his troubles and
was wandering about as crazy people
often do. There was no cause to fear
him, however, and we sat and smoked
to a late hour and had a good visit.
When morning came and we had dis
posed of breakfast he said:
"You probably want to be moving,
while l must attend to business. am
truly rejoiced that you happened to come
this way. Once in awhile during the
last year I've had sneaking suspicion
that ought to have held to the news
paper line and tried to work up among
the prominent editors, and when that
feeling has come I've been ready to
throw up my hands. But that article
Of yours last night settled it forever
Just boiled it right down to cold facts,
and it read as smooth as streak of
grease. This is the line l was born for,
and I'm sorry l wasted so many years
finding it,"
He urged me to accept 500 as pres
ent, and when firmly refused he wanted
me to take gold watch. In those days
tramp printer with four dollars ahead
of the game was a millionaire. My re-
fusal seemed to hurt his feelings, but he
shook hands heartily at parting and
wished me all sorts of good luck. In due
time reached Neosho, went from there
to Fayetteville, Ozark and GAINESVILLE,
and about the middle of December
brought up at Van Buren,. One day
was sent over to Fort Smith to inter
view man who was to be hung ten
days later. When admitted to the pres
ence of the condemned l was almost
paralyzed to discover in him the whilom
editor of The Echo. His surprise was
likewise great, but as soon as he had raj
lied little his face fairly beamed with
smiles, and he said:
what godsendl Why, my dear boy
I'd rather see you than any other man
on earth! 1t wasn't an hour ago that
was saying I'd give a day of the few left
me to see you! You have come to inter
view me?"
Yes"
"From Van Buren,"
eyes"
Good! Just look at this Fort Smitl
paper out today. There's a whole col
umn article ON me. You could have
boiled that down into three stickful
and made beautiful thing of it-posi
lively beautiful. All, I'm thrice glad t.
see your
"And what has happened?" l asked.
"Gun accidentally went off and killed
man. Pure accident, but l couldn'
make 'em believe it. am to be hung
ON the Goth. Too bad, of course, but it,
too late for lamentation. You've beer
sent over today to get preliminary
how the condemned looks and feels, IL,
hope of reprieve-going to the gallow
like brave man, and SO forth and so on?
That's it."
"All right. You can do yourself prouC
on that. Make about column and pu
on three scare heads, all fullface caps
And now about the other-the actua
event. There won't be much to it. Don
try to pad it out. You can't make owe
half column of loaded minion withou
padding. The salient features will be-
reading the death warrant, GOODNESS o
the condemned, march to the scaffold
ringing down the curtain. See? Don
attempt anything Shakespearean. Max
it all meat"
III do my best"
I'm sure you will. And one thin
more. You are the only living man VIII
knows | used to fill an editorial chair o
tried to. l think you had better be s.
lent on that point. You could point
moral by saying that unsuccessful ed
tors made good highway robbers, but
would sort O. smirch the profesh. n
use to hurt the feelings of our esteemed
you know. shall look for you on tn
goth. Goodby."
Owing TO an accident did not reac
the fort on the goth until ell was ovel
He had left me line when they told hill
was not present. 1t read
Don't exceed half Il column, and us
only one top head. | leave you all III
earthly ossessions-twelve copies of I'll
busted Echo and revolver"