The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-02

the DON up, AlcTlty- 1Oih' oh, h~A :
timer. stow that notebook The fork is
rightier than the pen just at present.
What's the matter with you. Anerley?".
II was wondering whether what we
have just seen was worth n telegram"
swell. it's for the proprietors 10 say
ir it's worth il. Sordid money con-
siderations are not for us. We mustwire
pbout something just TO justify our
kherlSi coats and our putties."
"Dut what is there to say?"
Mortimer's long austere face broke
into q smile over the youngsters inno-
cencc.
"It's not quite usual in our profession
10 give each other tips" said he. How
ever. rs my telegram is written. I've no
objection to your reading it. You may
be sure that would not show ii to you
Ii It were of the slightest Importance"
Ancrley took up the slip of paper and
read:
"Merrywcather obstacles stop jour
ncy confer general stop nature difficult
ties later stop rumors dervislSes."
"This is very condensed" said Amer
ley. with wrinlSled brows.
"Condensedl" cried Scott. "Why, it's
sinfully garrulous. If my old man got
q wire like that his language wonld
crack the lamp shades. I'd cut out
half this; for example, I'd have out
Journey and nature and 'rumors.'.
But my ole man wonld make "a ten-line
PARAGRAPH of il for all that"
"How?"
''Well, I'll do IL myself just TO show
you. Lend me that stylo." He scrib-
bled foi minute in his notebook. ut
works out somewhat on these lines:
"'Mr. Charles II. Merryweather, the
eminent railway .engineer, who is at
present engaged in experimenting tho
construction of the line from Sarras to
the front, has met with considerable
obstacles TO the rapid completion of his
important taslx'--of course the old man
knows who Merryweather. is, and what
he is about, so the word obstacles
would suggest all that to him. He has
to-day been compelled TO make jour
ncy of forty miles to the front in order
to confer with the general upon the
steps which are necessary in order 70
facilitate che work. Further particu-
lars OF the exact nature Of the diff
culties met with will be mnde public
ut a later date. All is quiet upon the
line of communications, though the
usual persistent rumors of the presence
of dervishes in the eastern desert con-
tinue to circulate.-Our Own Corre-
spondent.'
"How's that?" cried Scott, triumph.
antly, and his white teeth CLEANED sud
denly through his black beard. That's
the sort of fapdoodle for the dear old
public"
'sNill it interest them3"
"Oh. everything interests them
9hey want to know all about 1t; aIsd
they like to think that there is man
who is getting hundred n month SIM
ply in order to tell il TO them"
"Ics very kind of you to teach me
all this"
swell, il is little unconventional.
for after all we are here TO score over
each other IL we can. There are no
more eggs. and you must take it out in
Jam. OF course, as Mortimer says, such
Selegram as this is of no Importance
one way or another except 10 prove
to the office that we are in the Soudan
and not at Monte Carlo. But when 1t
comes to serious work it must be every
man for himself"
''Is that quite necessary"
"Why. OF course il is"
IL should have thought II three men
were 10 combine and TO share their
news, they would do better than IL they
were each 10 net for themselves; and
they would have much pleasanter
time OF IT."
The two older mon eat with their
bread and jam in their hands, and an
expression of genuine disgust upon
their faces.
I'VE are not here to have n pleasant
time" said Mortimer, with flash
through his glasses. eve are here TO
do our best for our papers. How can
they score over each other If we do
not do the same? If we all combine we
might as well amalgamate with Reuter-
at once"
why. IL would take away the whole
EIOFl OF lut pIoitNslohf Ns'NN SNNNN.
"At present the smartest man gets his
stuff first on the wires. What induce
Inent Is there 90 be smart IL we all
share and share al.ke2"
"And at present the man with the
best equipment has the best chance
remarked Mortimer, glancing across at
<hc shot-silk polo-pcnies and the cheap
little Syrian gray. THAT is the fair re-
ward of foresight and enterprise.
Every man for himself, and let the best
man win"
That's tha way TO find who the best
man Is. Look al Chandler. He would
never have got his chance II he had not
played always OF bis own bat. You've
heard how lie pretended 20 break his
LEG. sent his fellow-correspondent of
for the doctor. ano 30 got fair start
for the telegraph Office
"Do yru mean to say that was legiti-
mote?"