Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-11-11
Ole Understrapper
IOrig1naI.l


| proprietor, Edward Farnham, capital
| list and litrerateur; two readers a4Id q
| young man named Arthur Otis, WIG
| cid odd jobs in the making up" that
were not considered Of sufficient i'm
portance to take UP the time Of the
others. The last named was the first
of the lot to take a wife and was strug-
Cling along on a starvation salary. He
was quiet inoffensive young fellow
and not considered of sufficient talents
to make his way to a better position.
One day Mr.. Farnham laid a manu-
script novel on Otis desk and said:
There's a novel by Donald Fox /
want you to go over it and get it
ready for the printer" Mr. Farnham
usually gave his orders, to Otis espe-
cially, without comment, but today be
was very much pleased and added:
"We must begin that in May. I've
been keeping place for it. Anything
by Fox will increase the circulation 80
per cent. 1t ought to. 1t cost 10 cents
word for the serial right alone This
is the best thing, in my judgment, he's
ever done; a new departure; not bit
in his usual style"
Otis never made a reply to anything
tile head of the concern said He took
the manuscript and began to Wort
upon it Immediately. The next Gay he
took it to his chief and pointed ont
what he considered a defect, suggest.
ing that it be referred back to the au-
scowled, examined the pages referred
to and told Otis that he was not err!
ployed to tell eminent writer's how to
write novels. Otis pocketed the snub
and sneaked back to his desk
When Otis had concluded his work
he laid the manuscript on Mr.. Farm
hams desk and remarked:
II see sir, that the work is not fin
ished."
''Mr. Fox has promised to have 1t all
in by the required time. We shall not
be delayed"
But sir" said the clerk, as a shade
of anxiety passed over his face, don't
you fear that if anything should hap
pen to Mr.. Fox
''Well?'' said manager in icy tones.
'COuld any one else finish it?"
mo, but I'm going to take the risk"
In due time the story appeared, and
it's reception was far beyond what the
manager had looked for. The criticisms
were fine, all critics noting the new
departure Of the author. 1t suggested
the case Of 1.-THE Cloister and the
Hearth" by Charles Reade, which is
unlike any Of its authors other works.
Mr.. Farnham was jubilant.
One day when the story had been
running six months Otis noticed gen
tleman, who, he was told, was the
celebrated Donald Fox, talking with
the manager. After the visitor had
gone Mr.. Farnham brought a package
to Otis desk.
1.-THE closing chapters Of FoX's great
novel," he said. Prepare them for is
sue"
The next morning Otis stood by his
chiefs desk waiting permission to
speak.
''Wellr' said the manager
"Have you read these chapters of
Mr.. Fox's novel?"
''No.''
''They are entirely unlike the rest
The public will not believe Mr.. Fox
wrote them. They are very abrupt"
1t was on the chiefs tongue to tell
his subordinate to attend to his own
business, but the last words changed
the impulse. Since the author was to
be paid 10 cents a word for the work,
it would not be to his interest to close
it abruptly.
leave it," said the chief.
For the next few days Otis sat at his
desk surrounded by a cyclone. From
what he overheard he judged that Fox
had confessed that he had hired lit
erary man who had done some good
work to write the story at 5 cents a
word. The author had been taken ill
and died when the work was about
two-thirds finished. Fox had hurriedly
written the last chapters himself
AS soon as he gathered this informa-
ton Otis walked humbly to the chiefs
desk
"Would you like, sir, Mr.. FoX's novel
continued in the same vein as the ear
lier chapters 2"
Like it? We're in the biggest hole'--
He stopped short. He remembered
that Otis had warned him Of this very
possibility.
WAS there any understanding with
Mr.. Fox as to the length of the story?'
asked Otis.
Farnham looked at the young man
with amaZement. None Of his en-
ployees had ever dared ask him about
the terms Of his contracts before.
do you know your business?'
Eyes, sir. But
"Well do it, and let other peoples
business alone"
"I've understood that Mr.. Fox was
to get 10 cents word and that he sub
let the work for 5 cents a word, but l
don't know how long the story was to
be-"