The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-11-27

hearted and delightfully."- braInlcss man
like George to do; and. worse still,
he went on thinking, and as a result
OF the novel mental irritant wrote a
work OF iiction!" 1t was-oh, my
aunt It was awful He kept it dark
until It was produced-of course, at
the authors expense and here fol.
loweth the deluge. Reviews, sarCas.
tic, cynical, openly abusive, poured
down on Georges curly hair. The
worst, the most brutal Of the notices
was written by Littleiord the quiet,
reserved Llttleford, as honest as-as
singular, | cant think of any name
at the mamcnt'--a scholar and an alb
Golutcly conscientious critic | need
not add that he was poor; that fol
lows naturally enough The review
appeared in The ScarIficr, and We all
promptly showed II to George, some
Of Us with the truly charitable object
Of checking any further literary eff
fort on his part. He looked rather
rueful. but said nothing. drank a soda.
and whisky in comparative silence
and shortly afterward disappeared
Two days later Blossop. with his
back to the fire. looked round and re-.
marked regrctfully:
bad bit Of business. this Of LittS.
ford's! Not heard OF It? Really, you
fellows seem to 30 about with your
h4nIs In bughpf bnukntefH
Some of us require a two-bushcl
basket" intcrpolatod MILAN. glaring
Significantly at Blossop who after
hurting parenthctically. "Swclled head
YOURSELF continued
Got the order of the sack from
The Scarihcr They're not doing very
well cutting down expenses and have
found some one to take on Little.
fords work for less money, suppose.
So the marriage is put on Awfully
pretty girl he's engaged to, met her
and Littlciord feeding the ducks in
the park: told me all about # next
day. idyIlic story; ! wcpt Ike a child.
Yes, he's got the chuck
There was a muttcrcd chorus of
"Boas'ly shame" Just like old Mig.
giles, OF the Scarihcr, anything to save
shilling" Poor little girl" Not a
bad chap. Littleford though he's a
monster when he's on the war.path e
Then we passed to something else.
Georgia had said nothing
Litlleford appeared at the club next
day, and one of MS ycnturcd to eX.
press sympathy. He crimsoned and
lrownod:
oh it's all right" he said in his
curt way they've taken me on again,
for some reason or other"
Then the marriage will come OF.
old man."
NO; future too uncertain he re.
piled. shortly; and thereupon proceed.
ed to cut the leaves OF book, prepar.
atury to cutting up the author.
Time passed-if more useful
phrase than this exists. can only say
that have not met with it--and, In.
credible as II may seem. George pro.
duccd another novel More deluge!
The Scariiier came out with a review
which made the hair Of some OF US
stand on end. and 1t was signed-the
review. not the hair--"Percy Little.
ford"
Blossop asked him why he had
| stuck his name to IT, LittlefOrd re-
garded him grlmly for a moment, and
then replied;
Because | discovered that II was
George who got me taken on again.
and had to sign It,"
"Oh! Wen. ! shouldn't be surprised
II you now get the ultimate chuck.
Blossop commented. For sheer saw.
agery, this article of yours takes the
freehold of a biscuit factory"
We all agreed for once, with Bios
sop; and our surprise was stupendous
and paraly2ing when he pranced into
the club the following evening shout.
ing, even more loudly than usual;
BOYS. the old Scarifer has changed
hands, And-keep your mouth shut,
] Nllldui NdIN " "ii 'llAo SNuhhih 3
outsidc-Littlcford has got the edi.
tcria chair, And who do you think
IL the new proprietor? Stand tight!
Hold on to something! Its-Georgle '
George came in before we could
avail ourselves OF our limited knOwl.
edge of English, and was at once
surrounded and threatened with sew
| eral painful deaths lucidly described
| In lurid language. unless he instantly
explained. He looked shy, for the first
time In his life, and stammered as he
| said:
Well, IL wanted to be something
in the literary line, Ike you fellows
! In the club; and as the novel business
didn't pan out very well-though
mind you! | don't think 1t was worse
than some OF the stuff you chaps write
i thought I'd buy paper"
But why, why choose Littleford fol
EDITOR" he was asked. He is capable
enough. of course; but those notices
OF his"
"Well--I thought I'd like a straight
upand.down chap"
"No man can be straight and AT
editor at the same time. you blither
ing idiot"