The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-04-13
Bromley GibbeIts Story.
rsopyright. 1887. blythe Author.1
By ROBERT BARR.

ECopyright. 1881. blythe Author.1
1ne 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 50 unfor-
I tunate as to be compelled to work for
The Sponge on the cheap. Magazines
and papers were Uttered ali about,
chiefly American in their origin, for
Shorely had been brought up in the ed
itnrial 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 fool and didn't know the differ
Sence. Some Of the greatest journalistic
successessin london proved the fact, be
claimed, yet The Sponge frequently
bought stories from well known au-
thors ard 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 ais wooden armchair. with his
gaze ON the fire and 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 help to pure Literature
elsewhere, or offer 81, 600 insurance
tied up in such 8 way that it would
look lavish1y generous to the constant
reader, and yet be impossible to collect
4 If q disaster really occurred.
IA the middle Of his meditations a
clerk enrered and announced Mr.
Bromley Gibberts.
Tell him I'm busy now. Tell him
I'm engaged, = said the editor, while
the perplezed frown. deepened on his
brow.
The clerks conscience, however, was
never bnrdened with that message, for
Gibberts entered, with a long ulster flap
ping about his heels.
That's all right, said Gibberts,
sswaYing his hand at the boy, who stood
wish open mouth, appalled, at the intru-
sion You heard what Mr. Shorely
said Hes engaged. Therefore let no
one enter. Get out. .
The boy departed, closing the door
after him. Gibberts turned the key in
the lock, then sat down.
There, he said. Nov we can talk
unmolested, Shorely. I shoald think
you would be pestered to death by all
manner Of idiots who come in and In
terrupt You. =
ct am, said the editor shortly.
Take my plan and lock your door.
'Sommunicate with the outer Offices
through speaking tube. see you are
down IN the mouth, sc ! have come to
cheer you up I've brought yen story,
my boy.
Shorely groaned-
Ny dear Gibberts," he said, tive
have now
Oh, yes; know all about that You
have matter enough cn hand to run the
paper for the next 5 years. If this IS a
comic story you are buying cnly seri-
Gus stuff. If this is tragic, humor is
what you need OF course the up and
down truth is that you are short OF
money and can't pay my price The
Sponge is falling; everybody knows
that Why can't you speak the truth,
Shorely, to me atleast? If you practiced
an hour Gay and took lessons-from
me. for instance yon would be able In
month to speak several truthful SEN
tences one after the other. y
The editor laughed bitterly.
You are complimentary, - he said
I'm not. Try again. shorely. Say
I'm bcorish ass. y
sWell, you are. y
There, ycu see how easy it is. Prac-
tiee is everything. Now about this
story. Will you
tI viii not As you are not an ad-
vertiser i don't mind admitting to You
that the paper is going down. You see,
it comes to the same thing. We haven't
the money, as you say, so what is the
nee of talking:''
Gibberts hitched his chair closer to
the editor and placed his hand on the
others knee. He went On earnestly.
Nov is the time to talk, Shorely.
In little while it will be too late.
You will have thrown up The Sponge.
Your great mistake is trying to ride
two horses, each facing different di-
rection. It can't be done. my boy. Make
"a
G. Eyr2x[
.EA---sls!1's 1E'N