The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-16
CHAPTER XIII.
James Ffsbee.

Gil IN the Herald ONCE; tnat is, III staring out
OF 6ingy windows in demented silence may
be called sitting In council; that was what
Mr.. Fisbee and Parker and Ross SChofleld
were doing. BY almost desperate exertions,
these three and Bud Tipworthy had managed
20 place before the public tho issues of the
paper for the previous week, unaided by their
chief, or, rather aided by long accounts of his
condition and the manner OF his mshap; and,
IN truth, three copies were at that moment in
the possession Of DR.. Gay, accompanied by
note from Parker warning the surgeon to ex-
hibit them to his patient only as last re-
sort, as the foreman feared the perusal of
them might cause a relapse.
BY indscriminate turns. acting as editors,
reporters and typesetters-and particularly
space-writers-the three men had worried out
thres issues, and part OF the fourth Ito ap-
pear the next morningl was set up; but they
had come to the end Of their string. and there
we're various horrld gaps yet to fill In spite
OF a too generous spreading of advertisements.
Bud Tipworthy had been sent out to
oesiese Miss Tibbs, all OF whose
recent buds Of rhyme had been hot
housed into inky blossom during the
week. and after long absence the youth
returned with a somewhat abrupt quatrain,
entitled Tho Parisians Of DID, which she
lad procured while he waited-only four lines,
according to the measure they meted, which
was not regardful Of art-less than a drop in
the bucket or, to preserve the figure
single posy where they needed bouquet.
Bud went down the rieksty outside stairs.
and sat on the lowest step. whistling wait
TIL the Clouds Roll BY, Jenny; Ross Scho-
Geld descended to set up the quatrain, and
Fisbes and Parker were left to silence and
troubled meditation.
They were seated on opposite sides OF
Harklesss desk. Sheets Of blank scratch
paper lay before them. and they relaxed not
their knit brows. Now and then, one Of
oft tJxy han rNn
Tor tan or fifteen minutes, would attack the
sheet before him with hercest energy; then
the energy would taper of, and the para
graph halt the writer peruss 1t dubiously,
then angrily tear of the sheet and hurl it to
tho Hoor. All around them lay these snow
balls Of defeated journalism.
Mr.. Parker was long, loose gaunt gentle
man, with psremptory forehead and capa-
ble jaw, but on the present occasion his capa-
bility was bafief and swamped In the at
tempt to steer the craft of his talent up an
unaccustomed channel without pilot. Il
don't see as IT'S any use, Fsbee." he said
morosely, after q series OF efforts that lit
tered the floor In every direction. "1'm a
born compositor. and can't shift my trade.
] stood the pace fairly for week, but III
have to give up; I'm run plumb dry. l only
hope they won't show him otir Saturday with
your three columns OF "A Word on the Lotus
Motive reprinted from February. l begin
what he felt when baliyragged him for
copy. Yes, sir; know how 1t 10 to be an
sdItor in dead town now"
I'VE must remember. too." said his oom-
panion. thoughtfully, there is the Thurs
day issue of this week to be prepared, almost
At once"
Don't. Please don't mention that, Fis-
boei" Parker tilted far back in his chair
with his feet anchored under the desk, pre-
serving precarious balance Il aln't as
grateful for my promotion to joint editor-in-
chief as I might be. I'm a middlng poor
painfully following the peregrinations Of a
fly on his companions sleeve.
Mr. Flsbee twisted up another sheet, and
employed his eyes in following the course
Of q crack in the plaster, q slender black
aperture which staggered across the dusty
ceiling and down the dustier wall to dis
appear behind still dustier map Of Carlow
county. THAT'S the trouble!' exclaimed
Parker, observing the others precccupation.
Soon as you get to writing q line or two
that seems kind Of promising, you begin to
take morbid interest In that blamed crack
It's busted up enough copy for me, the last
eight days, to have filled her up twenty
times over. I don't know as ever care to
see that crack again. turned my back on
1t, but there wasn't any use in that, because
II ny lights on you I watch him like a
brother, and II there ain't any fly I've caugh,
that IS Just as good"
To these two gentlemen, thus disengaged
re-entered latter much longer absence than
Miss selina's quatran justifed) Ross Scho-
field, healthy glow Of exertton lending pleas.
ant color to his earnest visage, and an almost
visible laurel Of success crownlng his brows
In addition to this imaginary ornament. he
was horned with pencils over both ears, ant
held some scribbled sheets in his hand.
II done a good deal down there" he an
nounced cheerfully, drawing up chair to tn,
desk. II thought up a heap Of things w,
heard lately. and thoy'n MI up mighty we'll
That there poem Of Miss Seliny's was a kint
Of an Inspiration to me, and tried one my
self, and It didn't come hard at all. Whe,
got started once, 1t Jest seemed to flop
from me. ] didn't set mono Of It up" h.
added 1nodestly, but with evident conscious
ness Of having unearthed genius in hirnsel
and an elate foreknowledge Of the treat II
store Tor his companions II thought T..
or't to see how you liked It first" He ofYere.
the papers to Mr.. Parker, but the forerna,
shook his head.
'~You read It, Ross" he said II don't Be
lievs feel hearty enough to-day. Read tn
items 6rst-we can bear the waiting"
What waiting7" inquired Mr.. schof1eld.
'For the poem," replied Parker grimly.
With a vague but not heeting smile, Ros
settled the sheets in order, and exhbte
tokens Of that pleasant nervousness incden
to appearing before q critical audience, ar1ne
with literture whose merits should deiigh
them out OF the critical attitude "I ra
eeross q great scheme down there" he vol
unteered afniably, by way Of preface: II de
scribed everything in full, in as many word
as could think up; It's mighty filing, an itl
please the public, too; 1t gives 'e1n a lot NOR
information than they ally git. recko
there's two sticks Of Jest them extra word
adone."
"Go on" said the foreman, rather ouin
ously.
Ross began to read, a matter necessltating
puckered brow and at times an amount q
hesitancy and Illuminating, rs his results ha
already cooled little, and he found hi
hand dificult to decipher. Here's the hrst
he said: 5.r --'>
"'The large and handsome. fawn -coloret
two years and one-half year old Jersey
Frederick Hibshaw, Esquire--'
The forrnan interrupted him: Every reade
Of the Herald will be glad to. know tbs
Jerseys age and color! But 60 on"
"-Frederick Ribshaw Jones, Esquire
pursued his assistant. with some discomfturr
Esquire. our popular and well-dreese
fellow citizen--'"
"You're right; Rib Jones Is a heavy swell,
said Parker in breaking voice.
"'-TCitiZen, Tan be daily seen wanderin
other far end Of g."
"'Hisr" exclaimed Parker. " 'fI1s pasture
lot7 The Jersey's7'
"No," returned the other, meekly, Fri
JONES'"