The Press., 1896-03-26

"II roast hinl get"
 ed very carefully under that window. It rained last night, and the ground is softer today, but that's no reason why wouldn't yesterday havo seen hole in the turf. or rather two of them, as big as my fist
 "You probably didn't get down on your knees yesterday afternoCn for fear of getting grass stains on your pants, ," ventured Peeto as he dodged out of the room to escape the professors boot. II guess You re wrong, prof., re- marked Brayton, ''for MT. Caleb Saw telle was ill here this morning to say that he had discovered the tracks, and understand he has already had both Booled and Slocas over there. He seem- ed inclined to take exceptions to what we stated yesterday on this point and also to the bit of biographical informa- tion you appended. l endeavored to ex- plain to him that his family was for the time being public topic, but he wouldn't look at it in that light and went away in high dudgeon. Maybe the cuss knows more about the tracks and how they came there this morning than we do. As for the fam ily''-
 "Oh, come! Come, prof, don't lose your head ill that way. You mustn' t insinuate anything like that about a man. You might get into trouble.
 "That's all right! don't mean to insinuate anything. l do say to you privately, though, that MT. Caleb Saw telle had everything to gain and noth ing to lose by the death of his father. He's caused the old man a heap of trOu- ble one time and another, and I'll bet 8 bottle of wine that if a Will is discover ed-which isn't very likely now-he's left with trustee to manage him. I'm on to MT. Caleb, and while l don't care | to jeopardize The Blade i'll any way I'll roast him yet, and The Blade won't suffer for it either.
 That evening The Standard came out with a screed against the would be Hawkshaw White, who had been subsi- dized by the "handbill" to give its re porter sensation for starter, and in- timated in very guarded manner that the officer might have committed the murder himself for the sole purpose of giving "curbstone dodger" an item of importance. It also contained an extend ed editorial calling public attention to the worth of The Standard as news paper, quoted its age and standing, and asked as to whether or not the public bwonld indorse g. E4per, so called, made up of plate matter instead of telegraph dispatches hot from the wire" and write ups of business houses instead of legitimate local news.
 "They re hit and hit hard, or they wouldn't hutter and flop so," laughed Brayton as he sat in his office that even- ing, and he proceeded to pen an article in answer that, while not apologizing for any defects in The Blade, promised all sorts of better things for its readers. It also called direct attention to the de- fects of the greedy and sleepy old Stand l ard. Among other things touched upon were certain exorbitant charges made certain city departments for certain pub lie printing and advertising recently done, the fact that The Blade was un- sheathed for the sole purpose of cutting out such ulcers and eating sores on the body municipal and asking in return only fair share of public patronage.
 "Great head that Brayton has," re- marked the thinking citizens of the town, "and if he doesn't t close up that Standard concern in a few years, it will be wonder. '
 My DEAR BRAYToN [wrote friend of his from New York IT have built up several news papers, as you know and think know the ropes. l wish you every success. You make a glorious stride at the start and think you've got the 1 pole so far as your track is concerned. That you may get it and keep it to the end of every | heat and come in winner by good length is my earnest wish. Mind one, CT, rather, two things-keep down expense, but don't be afraid 1 to spend money where it is necessary. Ask fair prices for what you do and stand by them. | am sure you will treat your help right be- cause you are too good fellow to do anything else Don't be too generous with them dnan- cially, but pay the scale and treat them like men and brethren. If they get ''pick up," let them have it. It's their right. Don't | begrudge any man, much less 8 printer, his l rights. Be sure you hire printers and not 1 "blacksmiths. " Do you know what 8 "black- smith, isP It's the man who pounds spaces in with sledge because he is too shiftless to change thick for a thin space. Get all the Rews and business you can, and, in the words
 
 dom d fuss about it."
 Brayton protited by this sage advice and often ''blew his own horn" so wig orously as to blush for shame in reading his own paper. On reading over his friends letter he decided to frame it and hang it. up in his den where he could see it daily. He took the liberty of adding to it one maxim of his own, "In journalism be strictly honorable and by all means faithful to your friends, but wear no mans collar. :" He lived to regret such small sharp tricks as that played on Booled the first day of The Blades publication. and while he often laughed over that one never played another of the kind or allowed any of his men to do so.
 CHAPTER W.
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