Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-01-29
CHAPTER III.


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
meIt. 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 . I've
ly tune, the words of which he sang
with more regard for speed and ex-
act time than for expressions:
There was an old geezer. and he had a
No tobacco could he borrow, no tobacco
could he beg;
Another old geezer was cunning as a
fox, y
And he always had tobacco in his old to-
/ bacco box
Spirited breakdown and repeat-)
Eyes. he always had tobacco in his old
tobacco box"
AS the versatile Mr.. Hestor paused
to contemplate with much salts
faction. the success which had been
attained in this terpsichorean di-
version Mr. Chalmers, the manag ing
editor, entered the room.
''By the way, Chalmers" said Hes
tor, as he paced up and down the
room, "why wouldn't it be 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
pictures. Great scheme-dOn't you
think 500"
Mr.. Chalmers said it would prob
a bly, 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 financier 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 Hestor.
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 a large, broad
shouldered man, with close-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; a scarf of the same color,
| WlthOuO dhN pm, anu hIOuCSC
| watch chain, were features of APP
parel which distinguished Mr.. Nor
| ton from the well dressed attend
ants who ushered Hestor into this
1 office.
Il arm glad to see you again. Mr..
Hestor. Take chair. You will
| find that one more comfortable.
| trust you do not intend to interview
10
ton looked sternly at Hestor, who
ago abandoned that enterprise as
/ 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 a busy man and I will attempt
to state my proposition as concisely
as, possible. According to popular
| report and to general knowledge you
| have been Kept 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 a community Of owner
ship? In other words, have you con-
sidered the possibilities of news
paper trust 90
/ Mr.. Hestor paused. The stern old
i millionaire did not answer for a mo-
ment, and seemed to be waiting for
the editor to continue. Hestor was
content to wait.
i 81 have thought of it. hut did not
imagine the first suggestion would
come from a representative of The