The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-06-19

his name was known throughout the
land, or at least where newspapers
penetrated and libraries fiourished.
Rockton was proud of Taylor; IL had
rendered him a dinner which had been
one of the chief events oS-the Rockton
social season, and he had worn with
ease and grace the laurel wreath which
the towns best oratory had placed up
on his brow.
Yet life In Rockton had lost It's zest
for the young man. IL was not. to para
phrase classic language. that he liked
the town less, but that he disliked the
GOODNESS Of its fairest daughter more.
He and Elsie Matthews had been en-
gagged. There had been misunder-
standing and a returned ring. Elsie
had been naughty and had refused 10
listen TO explanations. Clever as Tay-
lor was in smoothing out the tangles
in imaginary loves and making all end
happily, he had come TO the gloomy
conclusion that his own very real love
affair was n failure. This was the true
inwardness OF his feeling that he
needed a change Of scene.
When Wilcox rang the doorbell impe-
riously one evening shortly after the
brief stop at Rockton of the Eastern
express, Taylor's delight at greeting
his old friend showed very plainly In
his face.
Hello, old man." cried Wilcox with
chara acteristic breeziness, you're sur
prised to see me, suppose. Well. I'm
on my way back TO New York from
Chicago. and I've stopped over train
TO shake hands and smoke pipe with
you. How are you nowadays? I've
been reading your last story on the
train; it's great. / suppose you know
that your names up among the mixed
pickle and oatmeal signs In the Chicago
street cars? ! hope I'm not Interfering
with the blaze Of genius tonight"
From the depths OF easy chairs, with
clouds of tobacco smoke drifting be-
tween them, Taylor and Wilcox talked
The latter Informed his friend that the
fires of inspiration were burning low.
II haven't written line for n
month" he said, "but It's time ! began
young fellow has a falling out with his
girl, goes TO New York, conquers the
town, and comes back in triumph for
his bride. Sounds very trite, doesn't
IL? But IL all depends upon the way
it's worked up-contrast between vii.
lage and metropolis, sociological prob
lem of the drift 10 cities touched upon,
and all that sort of thing. you know.
But l can't write it."
"Why notT
Because i haven't the material. ]
want TO make the young fellow news
paper reporter, so that he will see
great many phases of city life. But
I've never been inside a New York
newspaper Office in my life"
Wilcox puffed vigorously on his cigar
for moment.
ITS easy, easy" he exclaimed, sud
denly, and with enthusiasm. Dun
can, the managing editor of the Globe,
is n good friend of mine; besides, the
governor has influence with the pub
Usher. They won't suspect that
Thomas Taylor, applicant for job
as reporter, is Mr.. II. Livingston Tay-
Tor, successful novelist. This Is great
scheme. Throw your things together,
old man. and come along with me on
the midnight train. I'd wait till to-
morrow If l hadn't promised to see
the Harrington girls off 70 Europe in
the morning. But you have time
enough. Great Scott, or rather. great
Taylor, it was n happy thought of
mine TO stop off and see you"
Taylor smiled and smoked thought
fully. after all. why not?" he medl-
tated. The adventurous element in the
suggestion appealed to him. 1t would
be a distraction. in addition to giving
him valuable material. AS for the
suddenness of his departure there was
no one to consult-his parents We're
dead-but Mrs. Mcmahon, the house
keeper. She had retired. but he would
leave her a note.
"I have half mind to do It," he ex-
claimed.
And have a whole mind that you
shall" responded Wilcox quickly, $50
we have n mind and half made up
on this. Now pack your things in n
hurry"
AS Taylor was taking farewell
look around his dsheveled room he
failed to observe that the note he had
left for Mrs. MacMahon had. in the
furry of his preparations, been pushed
into half-open drawer among some
old papers.
On the second morning afterward the
young men We're escorted by boy
through big room with long tables 10
the little Office in the corner. The edi-
tor rose and shook hands cordially with
Wilcox.
please resume your cold editorial
manner, Duncan" exclaimed the lat.
ter. laughingly. after he had introduced
Taylor. "We have come on a business
errand. Mr.. Taylor wants TO be n
newspaper man. He's lonesome
writing. At college. remember. he
was considered bright at IL. If yo-
could squeeze him in. should consider
Il favor"
The editor glanced keenly at Taylor.
Ever been on n paperI' he asked.
"Never," replied Taylor.
The editor. tapping his desk gently
with a pencil. took another look at the
young man. his eye resting for an in.
stant on Taylor's clever face.
"Well," he said. after n slight pause.
"we are pretty full just now. and we
81. I,s 1,,tt