The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1893-06-24
REJECTED AND ACCEPTED
Why a Stenographer Lost Faith in
the Worlds Honesty.

more sought after by publishers and
the editors of magazines. Mr.. Flipp
had been somewhat prolific at the be-
ginning, but now that he could get
practically any price he asked for his
MSS, he became more careful. 1t was
more and more difficult for magazine
to get a story by this now celebrated
author.
One day there came to his room
man whom the world apparently had
not used generously.
81 have come" said he to Mr.. Flipp,
ITO see you without any letter of intro
duction, or without any preliminary an
nouncement. l was afraid to let you
know intended to come, as so busy a
man as you might well have refused to
see a stranger
II am not a busy man." said Mr..
Flipp. II doubt if anyone in the town
has more leisure than 1. Sit down.
What can do for for you?"
"My name," said the stranger "is
Crosby. | am shorthand writer and
want to work for you"
My dear SIR" replied Flipp, 81 have
no use for shorthand writer. 1 have
never dictated in my life, and doubt
if I could Everything write 1 do with
my own hand. / do not even use type
writer"
II do" said Crosby. 81 have type
writer at home, and if you will try die
tation for awhile it will occupy but
little of your time and you may find it
extremely useful. If, on the other
hand, you conclude that it is of no ad-
vantage to you, no harm will be done. {"
II know, before we begin" said
Flipp, ''that it wouldn't work. ! am
sure of that"
How can you be sure" asked Cros-
by, "about something you have never
tried? Let me ask you question: Have
you ever forgotten any good idea that
you ever had?"
Hundreds of them" answered Flipp.
"Then does not that strike you as
tremendous waste of brain power? Have
you never felt annoyed to think that
some good idea that had occurred to
you had slipped into oblivion?"
Flipp, who had been walking up and
down the room with some impatience,
stopped and looked at his visitor.
II presume" he said at last, "every-
body has had that annoying experience.
The fish that gets away is always bigger
than those we catch"
Precisely" answered Crosby. ''Then
why let them get away? You are a
young man now, but there will come a
time when you will regret the waste
that probably now seems trivial"
What salary do you want?" asked
the writer abruptly.
i don't want any salary" replied
Crosby 81 shall be very pleased to give
YOU an hour a day for nothing. At
least lie said, seeing Flipp wave his
hand impatiently, until you find
whether or not the proposal is of value.
to,you. Once down on paper an idea is
fixed, and forever under your control.
Merely floating on your brain it may
sink and never rise to the surface
again"
There is something in that" said
Flipp meditatively. ''At least it will
do no harm to try. AS you came in
was thinking of a story that ought to
work out reasonably well. Have you
your notebook with your"
Crosby produced it.
Flipp walked up and down the room
for few moments in silence.
Suppose we head it, he said, 's"The
Parting of the Ways"
Crosby was evidently an expert short
hand writer, for when Flipp became in
terested in the story he talked very rap
idly but Crosby, without apparent
haste, noted it all down, never once
checking the speaker :
"There," said Flipp, when he had
finished, ''what do you think Of that
story?"
Really" said Crosby, 81 cannot tell
you. have not heard it."
Not heard it!' exclaimed the novel
ist. Have not just dictated it to
you?"
"You have dictated it," said Crosby,
ito a machine. shall give you nv
opinion upon it when l have read the
typewritten MS. That is" he added,
''if you care for the opinion of no.
Cooy' W hCIi oilshIl CilI dSSdtn!
"Oh, am in no hurry said Flipp.
"This hour tomorrow
Yes, If that suits your convenience"
The stranger snapped the elastic band
around his notebook, put the cap upon
the .stylographic pen, and, without
word, departed.
"He is queer fish," said the writer
10 himself when his visitor had gone.
II don't more than half like the looks
Of him."
Next day the stenographer called at
The same hour, and placed before the
novelist ten pages of typewriter MS.
headed "The Parting of the Ways
1T is one of. the best stories you have
yet written" said Crosby, 'if you want
my opinion"
Reginald laughed. ''If you were after
! large salary that would be the kind
# remark one might expect you to
make"
II am not after salary at ALL" an
swered Crosby "You asked my opin-
on, and I give it. 1t may be worth
ess."
''Which-the opinion or the storyq"