The suburban citizen., 1901-04-20

will be paid for the return Of the MS.
of an unpublished epic poem m three
cantos by Mr. Rudyard Kipling, called
England, 1 Despise Thee"
Lost by a messenger between City
Hall and Twenty-third street The
Ms. can be made OF no commercial
value except by Scott & Loring, au-
thors' agents, literary brokers and sell
ers Of manuscript on commission, st.
Louis Building, Room Ill.
When Loring burst into the office,
Scott was already sitting at his desk.
Andy" said Loring, II see it's in
print"
Eyes, and I wish it wasn't Wen
get into trouble over that fake, just
as sure as the world
Loring laughed as he whirled his
chair to the proper height and sat
down opposite his disconsolate part
ner,
"Why, it was your own proposition"
he said "and a better advertisement
couldn't be invented"
"I know that, Hugh. But it's lie.
that's all it is. What if Kipling ever
hears Of it?'
HE isn't very likely to hear Of it
in Australia. Besides, we can always
say that somebody has imposed upon
us, can't we? You wait until business
begins to pick up. After reading that
every editor in the city will want to
! know what else we have for sale. And
as for the authors-well agents that
keep Kipling poems on hand will have
more than they can do. Wen have to
hire an extra Office before the week is
out"
Scott sighed and rolled his morning
cigarette between his fingers, but in
the act Of striking a match he was
interrupted by a messenger boy. He
broke open the envelope, and then
tossed the inclosure over to Loring.
Hugh looked at it eagerly:
"The McScriban Company present
their compliments to Messrs. Loring
& Scott, and will be desirous Of see
ing Mr.. Kipling's poem, mentioned in
this mornings Leader. They take the
liberty Of adding that they are anxious
to secure any other works Of cele-
brated authors which Messrs. Loring
& Scott may have in their hands for
disposal"
LOring snorted excitedly.
"But what can we say to 'em"
asked Andy, helplessly, after the mes
senger had retired. I'VE haven't got
a manuscript that's worth a cent, and
you know it."
"Oh, don't worryr Loring ex-
claimed. "The authors will have that
ad. pointed out to them, as well as the
publishers. / shouldn't be surprised
If Richard Harding-hello, here's an
otherw
A second messenger, n note from
Doublepage & Harclure. Even Scott's
heretofore doubtful eyes cleaned at
this
"Now," he said, 81 guess they'll
pay some attention to us. Hugh, this
is immense, so long as we don't get
found out"
Never you mind about that Come
in! It's probably the great American
novelist"
But the caller was not a novelist,
he was a shaIp-faced young reporter
for the Evening Universe.
Game T. see bout this Kipling
poem" said he, glaring at Loring
through a pair OF very thick eye
glasses Course, it's matter T great
gen'ral intrest. Anything y want
tell tn Uniyerse?"
Hugh cleared his throat and glanced
at his partner, but the latter gentle.
man only rose hurriedly apd looked
out of the window with an impressive
air of abstraction. The rapid spoken
man from the Universe pulled up q
chair and produced dirty notebook
"Youl see" faltered Loring, IL did
not read the poem-I-I-"
Don't want you T. recite It," the
reporter said, "Only few things mes
airy for a story What's poem about
When was t written? How much Z
It worth? What's style? Why'd Kip
ding d'spise England?'
Hugh interrupted him, under tn,
guidance Of a happy inspiration.
'I'n tell you." he suggested. this Il
rather q delicate business matter
You'd better let me draw up IA sor
of statement. I'll have 1t ready in al
hour"
20. H." asseuted the newspapers
, man. you'll agree t. give out nothin
else Z tn other boys? They'll all b.
round"
"The same information will be Civ
en- to all the papers," Loring declared
"in one hour"
Good" said the Universe, and
slammed the door.
what are We going to do?' criet
Andy. "Those pirates are bound T.
get up some kind Of a story. II vii
ruin us-our reputation and MI that.
II know what I'm going to do,
said Lorlng. I'm going to get awal