The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-08-28
Bromley GibbertS' Story.
copyright, 1897, by the Author.1
By ROBERT BARR.


The room in which John Shorely ed
tied The Weekly Sponge in London was
not luxuriously furnished, but it was
comfortable. A few pictures decorated
the walls, mostly black and white
drawings by artists who were so unfor-
tunate as to be compelled to work for
The Sponge on the cheap. Magazines
and papers were Uttered all about,
chiefly American in their origin, for
Shorely had been brought up in the ed
itorial school which teaches that it is
cheaper to steal from a foreign publica-
ton than waste good money on original
contributions. You clipped out the
story, changed New York to London,
Boston or Philadelphia to Manchester
or Liverpool, and there you were.
Shorely's theory was that the public
was a fool and didn't know the differ
ence. Some of the greatest journalistic
successes in London proved the fact, he
claimed, yet The Sponge frequently
bought stories from well known au-
thors and Dragged greatly about it.
Shorely's table was Uttered with
manuscripts, but the attention of the
great editor was not upon them. He
sat in his wooden armchair, with his
gaze on the fire and a frown on his
brow. The Sponge was not going well,
and he feared he would have to adopt
some of the many prize schemes that
were such "a help to pure literature
elsewhere, or offer 81 900 insurance
tied up in such a way that it would
look lavishly generous to the constant
reader, and yet be impossible to collect
if a disaster really occurred.
In the middle of his meditations 8
clerk entered and announced Mr..
Bromley Gibberts.
TELL him I'm busy now. Tell him
I'm engaged" said the editor, while
the perplexed frown deepened on his
brow.
The clerks conscience, however, wal
never burdened with that message, fol
Gibberts entered, with a long ulster flap
ping about his heels.
"That's all right" said Gibberts
waving his hand at the boy, who stood
with open mouth, appalled, at the intru
sion. "You heard what Mr.. Shorely
said. He's engaged. Therefore let NJ
one enter. Get out"
The boy departed, closing the dool
after him. Gibberts turned the key il
the lock, then sat down.
"There, he said. Nov we can tall
unmolested, Shorely. l should thinl
you would be pestered to death by al
of idiots who come in and in
terrupt you"
Il am" said the editor shortly.
Take my plan and lock your door
Communicate with the outer office
through a speaking tube. see you ar
down in the mouth, so | have come t.
cheer you up. I've brought you a story
my boy"
Shorely groaned.
my dear Gibberts," he said, CIV
have now
"Oh, yes; 1 know all about that. Yo'
have matter enough Oh hand to run tn
paper for the next 10 years. If this is
comic story, you are buying only seri
Gus stuff. If this is tragic, humor j
what you need, OF course the up an
down truth is that you are short {
money and can't pay my price. Th
Sponge is failing; every body know
that. Why can't you speak the truth
Shorely, to me at least? If you practice
an hour a day and took lessons-fro1
me. for instance-you would be able i
a month to speak several truthful ser
fences one after the other"
The editor laughed bitterly.
you are complimentary" he said.
Ppm not. Try again, Shorely. Sa
I'm a boorish ass"
"Well, you are"
There, you see how easy it is. Pra'
tice is everything. Now about tn
story. Will YOU
Il will not. AS you are not an at
v~ertiser l don't mind admitting to 20
that the paper is going down. You SCI
it m to the same thing. We haven
the money, as you say, so what is I'll
use of talking?"
Gibberts hitched his chair closer
the editor and placed his hand on tt
others knee. He went on earnestly.
Nov is the time to talk, Shorel,
In a little while it will be too lat
You will have thrown up The Spong
Your great mistake is trying to rio
two horses, each facing a different d
rection. 1t can't be done. my boy. Nal
q