The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-09-19
CHAPTER VIII.

swercd, casting suspicious look at pom
derous roll under Toney's arm.
~ thought would bring you story he
said. with a triumphant smile. ~ heard you
was going TO use one Of Miss Hopkins
novels, so | thought I'd bring you some
thing worth publishing, if you must have a
serial"
Allen assured him that he was in no need
Of any thing of the kind, and had never for
moment en-; crtained thought OF publishing
Miss Hopkins story.
"Not agoin' to publish itr cried the
amazed Toncy; "why, it's all over the town
and country, too, that you intend runnin'
her novel as serial in the WtStsfs Repab-
Ac."
1T is a mistake"
81 thought so, Nothin she writes is fit
to be in print" said Toney, somewhat acri-
moniously "Says she used to contribute
to Harper, but guess twas to their waste
basket
"The number of waste basket contrib
utors is much greater than those whose
papers are published"
ayes, suppose so but no one likes to
write for the EDITORS waste basket; it don't
usually pay,n returned T'oney but let
me read you few chapters Of The Bloody
Knife, or the Wild Witch of the Santeo
Border"
at would not be worth while, Toney, for
all our space is engaged. Every inch that
can be spared from news will be devoted to
advertisements"
"Who wants to read advertisements"
said Toney, with a look of disgust.
"They are invaluable to country news
paper. They bring in considerable money,
and without them we could hardly exist"
81 suppose it's money and not talent you
want" sarcastically returned the author.
Allen smiled, and then in very calm
manner proceeded to explain that this is
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 good price
for it, but it was valueless to him.
"A dealer in dry-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, car
not use it."
Toncy's disappointment was considerably
allcviated by the knowledge that Miss Hop
lins' story had been rejected also. After
the political campaign was over, the editor
thought he might possibly be able to use a
serial, and if he found himself in such a
position, would be pleased to look at Toneys
manuscript
Gathering up that ponderous roll, the
disappointed author left the Office with a
sigh. He was not the first, nor will he be
thn loo 10, cirrhc IF Il MT
ment. Oh, We hard-hearted publishers,
what a dark account will yours be, when
all the signs and tears of disappointed
authors are arrayed against you on that
final day
A day or two later, while Allen was
struggling between an article for the up
building of Turkeys Point and the mystery
of the great stone house on tho hill,
he heard u heavy step at his side and, look
ing up, saw Mr.. Strong.
"rm not agwinc to stand it," cried
Strong, anerily.
As mildly as he could, the country editor
asked for an explanation.
"Yer playin mo foul"
"You are laboring under a grave mis-
take" Allen returned, making a great eff
fort to keep his temper,
mo, I'm not; fur know We ar, Didn't
We promise me far an squar' yed support
me fur sheriff"
Eyes"
AN yer gwine t. go back on mc!"
"No, I'm not; unless you provoke ne into
breaking my promise, you will receive the
support of the Western Hepubdc."
"But they've got the yarn 'gwinc 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
to the stories you hear, and keep your in
tentions to yourself, until the time has come
for you to make your announcement"
II understand WE'LL eff yer gwine To
stand true to me, it, all right, but CT We dc
20 back on me, I'm agwine to knock the
props right out from under We, an let "
fall hard enough to break yer own neck
now we understand one another, don't wef
~ think we do"
"Very well, good-day."
"Good morning, SIR"
Although pledges had been renewed, ant
the ambitious candidate for sheriff had beer
treasured, it was evident that he was no
fully satisfied. Both himself and Tom Sim
mons were suspicious; unconsciously judg
ing all men by their own standard, the.
were suspicious Of every body. Each fearet
that some powerful influence, that grea
unknown pressure which politicians earl.
come 10 dread, would be brought to bea
upon fhe editor to alienatf him.
They watched each other with hawk-lik
eyes, and one never went to the printing
Office that tn other did not notice him, ant
at once surmisc that he had come to buy OF
the editor Each had vague belief tina
the other wa S to be an opponent for tn
, office 20 which he himself aspired. Tha
they should be candidates for differen
offices never entered into tho mind O
: either.
t Allen Gray was not one to give up mys
) terry unsolved. Having fallen in love wit
, the young lady at the mysterious house h
> was fully determined on solution TO tn
| mystery which seemed clouding her lif
. and crushing all her hopes. NotwithstanC
Q ing she had urged him for his sake and he
A own to keep away from the stone maj
a sion, on the evening after his interview
> wi Mr. Strong he found himself on hi
way toward the house on the hill. 1t wa
0 dusk before he started, and the moor
r which had grown so old it would not shin
Y until late in the night, would give him n
. aid.
), The front part of the house was dark IN
/. silent as if it had been deserted for year
+ This time he ventured up to the great stor
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