Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-11-11
CHAPTER III.
MR.. HECTOR PLANS A NEWSPAPER
TRUST

All early hour. He looked over his
mail, and then wrote note to Pal
mer j. Morton, the great fnancier
ana railroad magnate, requesting an
early interview on matter of some
Importance. This off his mind, Hes
tor made the rounds of the Office.
He chatted awhile with Mr.. Chalmers
and then drifted into the art depart
ment. He was in effervescent spirits,
and seemed highly satisfied with all
the world. Finally he returned to
his room and proceeded to work off
the exuberance of his animal spirits
by performing clog step to live
ly tune, the words of which he sang
with more regard for speed and ex-
act time than for expression:
There was an old geezer, and he had a
wooden leg;
No tobacco could he borrow, no tobacco
could he beg;
Another old geezer was as cunning as a
fox,
And he always had tobacco in his old to-
bacco box"
(Spirited breakdown and repeat-)
Eyes. she always had tobacco in his old
| tobacco box"
AS the versatile Mr.. Hestor paused
to contemplate with much sntis-
faction, the success which had been
attained in this terpsichorean di-
version Mr.. Chalmers, the managing
editor, entered the room.
by the way, Chalmers" said Hes
tor, as he paced up and down the
room, why wouldn't it be a good
scheme to let the women of New York
assume entire charge of the Record
| for week. Get some well-known
society woman to act as editor-in-
chief, and advertise for women
writer's of all kinds. Of course you
will have to look after the mechani-
cal and routine part of the paper,
but let them collect and write all the
stuff. Select young women to report
the horse races, prize fights, the po-
lice news, the courts and to handle
all departments of the paper. They
could run just as much or as little
foreign and out-of-town stuff as they
| pleased. They would write all of
| the editorials and draw all of the
L
think SOP"
| Mr.. Chalmers said it would prob
ably drive him into an insane asylum,
but that it was nothing short of an
inspiration. He agreed to outline a
plan and to confer with some pro-
gressive women he had in mind.
While they were discussing this
| project, word was received from Mr..
Palmer j. Morton that though very
busy he would be pleased to see Mr..
Hestor about four o'clock that after
noon. The fnancier was not unac-
quainted with the erratic correspond
ent of The Record, and while not in
| sympathy with the aims or methods
of that paper was not inclined to in
cur hostility by refusing the request
made by Hester.
At four o'clock the Hestor automo-
bile wheeled in front of Broadway
Office building, and few minutes
later the famous correspondent was
ushered into the magnate's private
Office. This apartment was severely
| plain.
Mr.. Morton was large, broad
shouldered man, with asclose-cropped
beard which must have once been
black or dark brown. Shaggy grey
| eyebrows stood guard over eyes of
steel blue-grey; eyes which looked
you full in the face as if to bid you
tell your innermost thoughts; and to
tell them quickly. Enormous hands
| were knotted with muscles of which
the foreman of railroad section
gang might be proud. A dark suit
Of blue; scarf of the same color,
without any pin; and modest
watch chain, We're features of APP
parel which distinguished Mr.. Nor
ton from the well dressed attend
ants who usbered Hestor into this
Office.
II am glad to see you again, Mr..
Hestor. Take chair. You will
find that one more comfortable. 1
trust you do not intend to interview
me. You know my rule" Mr.. Nor
ton looked sternly at Eestor, who
smiled and replied that he had long
| ago abandoned that enterprise as a
vain pursuit.
81 have called on matter of bus
iness," said Mr.. Hestor, briskly, as
| he removed his gloves, and leaned
| slightly forward in his chair. "You
| are busy man and l will attempt
to state my proposition as concisely
as possible. According to popular
report and TO general knowledge you
have been <ept the moving spirit in
those great financial undertakings
which have resulted in the reorgani-
cation of various industries. Your
standing is such that your name is
sufficient to guarantee the success
of any undertaking of this character.
Did it ever occur to you that there
is one great industry which never
yet has tested the benefits which
come from community of owner
ship? In other words, have you con
sidered the possibilities OF news
paper trust?"
Mr.. Hestor paused. The stern old
millionaire did not answer for mo-
ment, and seemed to be waiting for
the editor to continue. Hestor was
content to wait.
81 have thought of it, but l did not
imagine the first suggestion would
come from representative of The
Record" said Mr.. Morton. Hestor
1