Waterbury Democrat., 1901-08-07
A Soul Above Leather
By Edward BattmOOd.
Henderson apked for
 WY place on the Open Air Maga-
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I'M WV place on the Open Air Nigga zine he was out of college and wanted to be literary man. With engaging frankness he told this ambition to Mir. Bland, the propri- etor, and Mir. Bland smiled indul- gently and said that his editorial po- sitions were filed. The publisher did not add that there was only one desk fin the editorial room, and that the Open Air Magazine was to be con ducted chiefly for advertising pur- poses
 Henderson had read about the value of determination, and so he clung faithfully to MT. Bland's side, and became a nuisance to the promoter of the new magazine. In order to be rid of him, Bland turned him over to Col Terry, the head of the advertising department.
 Mir. Bland had done this sort of thing before, and Col. Terry was mad.
 ''The old man has showed another kid onto me-" growled the colonel to Jimmy Tate, his lieutenant, "and I'm good and sick of it. He'll ruin what little chance we have to make this sheet go. He will be no more use in here than piano player"
 The colonel was about right. Hen derson knew nothing of advertising and cared less. Indeed, Mir. Bland had hinted Something about the po- sition being merely temporary, and so, when Henderson took his desk, just outside Col. Terry's gorgeous private office, he determined to spend his time there in writing stories and not to bother much about the sordid business going on around him. He was awarded the task of checking space and seeing to the proofs. but in a few days he succeeded in mix ing things up in such a marvellous fashion that his duties were trans ferred to an aspiring stenographer. The ignominy did not disturb him fin the least
 ''This dude is too good for his job, !" said Col Terry.
 MT. Tate winked approvingly.
 Guess we'll have to send him out -on the street." the chief continued. ''That'n take it out of him."
 Sure" assented Jimmy, grinning.
 "BoyI" roared Col. Terry. "Asl1 MT. Henderson if he will be good enough to step this way"
 MT. Henderson was good enough, and stepped accordingly.
 ''Mr. Henderson" began the colonel, with impressive condescension, "now that your time permits you to take up more responsible duties in this department, I have decided to in- trust you with an urgent mission"
 'We are anxious" said he, ito se- cure some large advertising from the leather trade. I want you to go through the district and interview the leading firms.'
 Henderson's wandering eyes be- came focused on the co1one's dia- mond scarfpin. What shall I say to them?" he asked.
 The manager coughed to conceal his mirth, and Tate chuckled behind a blotter.
 q leave that to your good busi- ness judgment" replied the colonel, solemnly.
 How many pages shall I get, sir?" he inquired.
 Twenty" answered Terry, explo- sively. That is all we have room for. You might tell them that we shall have 20 leather pages in our October number"
 "Good-morning," said Henderson, and walked out.
 Jimmy Tate was skipping his leg in a mute agony of merriment.
 sThere ain't 20 lines in the whole Swamp" he gasped. five raked it four times"
 Henderson, unsuspecting and inno- cent, was on his way to the narrow, evil-smelling streets of the leather district. He comforted himself by re- fecting that he might find some ma terial for a story, and he went into the office of Wallace & White with the utmost unconcern as to the re- suit of his visit there.
 Young Henderson looked like any thing but a canvasser. To the clerk he presented his personal card, hay ing no other, which gave his address at the Harvard club. He was prompt 1y ushered into the presence of Mir. White, who had a son trying for the football team at Cambridge, and was exceedingly pfoud of it. Henderson shook hands cordially and sat down.
 'T am on the Open Air Magazine" !" said he, with an apologetic smile.
 MT. White nodded politely. ''In- deed," he said. ''You write up ath- ietics. suppose rowing, football, and so on?"
 "Oh, yesl" replied Henderson. This was splendid; the old gentleman re- garded him as an author.
 "And you've come to me for ma terial," went on MT. White.
 "Yes," said Henderson "But not exactly about athletics, this time. You sec we're going to have a lot about leather in the October number, and-''
 "Oh. advertising, eh? You're an ad- vertising man, eh?''
 ssWell, not exactly,"' explained Hen derson, eagerly. I'm only an adver- tising man temporarily. My real place. you see, is in the editorial rooms.v
 And they send an editor out to get advertising?" Mr. White laughed, and young Henderson looked wearily at the tips of his shoes. The mer- chant touched bell and sent for MT. Struthers.