Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-30

Very different said Mr.. Mallard with
emphasis
'Of course" said Mr.. Lampirthy. drily;
"of course. Mr. Mallard. the terms will
have to be different"
Very different Mr.. Lampirthy echoed.
do you know. Mr.. Mallard, I've often
thought that the position of a newspaper
proprietor is one to be envied. You have
80 much power in your hands for good or
evil. 1t must be very pleasant to have
so much power.
"It is pleasant" said Mr.. Mallard. but
without enthusiasm. He was asking him
self what his visitor wanted. Mr.. Lam
pirthy had not the reputation of being
man to waste much time In useless inter-
course.
IT once thought of starting a paper my
SELF" continued Mr. Lampirthy, land
even sketched out the lines on which
should run such a paper. l have them
here. Perhaps you would like to glance
over them And. without waiting for
reply. he rose to his feet. drew out sew
eral sheets of paper from his pocket and
thrust them into the hands of the aston
ished Mr. Mallard
My dear sir said the proprietor. we
all have ideas. But the practical man"
please read them said Mr.. Lam
pirthy. quickly. Il should value your
opinion on them.
My dear Mr.. Lampirthy. really
am SO busy this morning. l will look at
them tonight I'm sure 1t will be most
interesting-ah-!' he paused. as though
a sudden thought had struck him-..'if you
would only consent.
Consent to what?" asked Mr.. Lam
pirthy. sharply.
ITO our publishing these views of yours.
The way to run newspaper: by the
richest man in the world. There's
headline for you. If you would only con-
sent. 1t would be worth money to us
MIR. Lampirthy did not reply. But he
smiled at the suggestion. Under the cir
cumstances it was distinctly humorous.
But we are dieressing." continued Mr..
Mallard. You were talking Of the new
contract.
please read that paper" insisted Mr..
Lampirthy. II want your opinion. This
may mean business for you.
Business" queried Mr.. Mallard. "Oh,
we'll. of course
He commenced to read the paper. which
contained the views expressed by Father
Francis on the previous day. Mr.. Lam
pirthy watched his face. and observed the
occasional smile and the slight shrug of
the shoulders.
1T does you credit. Mr.. Lampirthy."
he said. handing the paper back to the
millionaire. They are the views OF
thoughtful man. and all the more cred
liable because they come from the brain
of millionaire. They show. it may say
so. soul above money. Yes. certainly
you must let me publish them in our
paper"
II dare say it can be arranged" said
idea strike you? Would you care TO run
the Daily Biograph on these lines?'
Mr.. Mallard laughed heartily.
Il have had ideals myself. he replied
genialIy, but one is forced to set them
aside in the stress of business. I dare
say you have felt the same way yourself.
1t would be fine thing to run the Bio
graph on the lines you suggested for your
own paper. but-well. 1 run my paper to
make money.
"And Won think a paper run on these
Lines would lose money!"
ut might not lose money. but it would
make very little"
Yet all the ideas I have suggested
might be worked up-by clever man like
yourself. with a clever staff. Sensational
little paragraphs. you know. about peo-
pie who have done good i'm the world
Bright. snappy little articles running
evils of wealth. the happiness of the sim
pie life. Why. such paper would cause
something Of a sensation"
For day. yes: But ! would a,n certainly y
Il would certainly not advise any one to
sink money in it.
Him." said Mr.. Lampirthy. thought.
fully. well. now. about this contract
speaker. He wondered why the CONVEX
sation was being switched so rapidly
from one subject to another.
II would suggest an advance Of per
cent on lHe present. pIICcS, HC Sdld
quickly Il recognize. of course, that pa
per is remarkably cheap just now"
1T is. you say, remarkably cheap.
The price will. as matter of fact. rise
considerably. In few months time pa
per will cost nearly twice as much as it
does today"
Twice as much?' queried Mr.. Mallard.
with the smile of superior knowledge.
MY dear sir. I'm afraid you have not
mastered all the details of the business.
There is a price beyond which paper cam
not rise. If such an advance as you
speak of were to take place. every news
paper In England would cease to exist"
HIN. yes! Perhaps so. But they
might charge more-say, twopence a
Ridiculous" said Mr. Mallard. "ridicu-
lous. 1t would be impossible. The public
would never stand It,.
continued Mr.. Lampirthy. HAS it never
struck you that combination of the
various interests is possible. If such a
thing took place they might put paper to
any price they like.
Not If they wished to sell it, replied
Mr.. Mallard. They wouldn't cut their
own threats by asking a price which no
newspaper could possibly pay
well. we shall see. But. as to the con-
tract. we are willing to renew it. at a
price somewhat in advance of the old
terms-say. 80 per cent"
Mr. Mallard looked at the speaker in
blank aStOnlSnmenl. Il men ne laughed
a tri1e nervously. for he thought he was
in the presence Of lunat.c.
MY dear Mr.. Lampirthy!'' he cried.
whatever do you mean? Surely you are
Joking"
II am in earnest Fifty per cent on the
old price-those are our terms"
I'm afraid then. we shall not be able
to do business. Hughes and Allen have
wanted to supply us for some years
Surely it was waste OF time TO come to
me with such a wild proposition as this"
Not at ALL replied Mr.. Lampirthy,
quietly I'm afraid you won't get much
better terms from Hughes and Allen
What do you mean?" exclaimed Mr..
Mallard.
Il have a controlling interest in their
business as WE'LL
We'll. there are plenty Of other manu-
facturers."
oh yes. plenty. but I'm afraid you
will find their terms all about the same"
Mr. Mallard's jaw dropped and his face
grew pale. The interview. which hitherto
had seemed like a ludicrous waste of
Gus aspect. Then he suddenly rose to his
feet and leant across the desk. pile of
congratulatory letters went flying to the
floor.
What on earth do you mean?" he ex-
claimed savagely. What are you drv-
ing at?''
II mean" Mr.. Lampirthy replied calm
ly. that the paper combine is already an
accomplished fact. The paper trade of
the world is practically In my hands,
Great heavens!' gasped Mr.. Mallard,
and then he sank back in his chair and
mopped his white face with his handker-