The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1911-02-23

But I'm booked for the CatsRllls
They be hanged! incest town
incest climate--best fishing-nicest
girls. Why, you'll own the whole show
in week. All you've got to do is to
steal an editorial or two on our reia'
tons with Japan. and the boys VIII do
the rest"
There was further protesting and
arguing, but In the end the Eagle
man carried his point, and that was
how Mr.. Clarence Thorpe. author and
journalist, came to be occupying tire
editorial chair of the village paper
when Miss Nellie Lees poem ap
peared.
The poem was first read with sur
prise, then with ridicule, then with
Indignation. 1t was an insult to send
parrot obituary to the Eagle" MT
| Thorpe was about to return 1t to the
major with some caustic observations
when Fate stayed his hand. Al
though Miss Nellie's name did not ap-
| pear as the author, her father had
given. her credit in HE letter. She
might be one of the nice girlsj the
editor had mentioned. The poem
would not bear publication, even as a
burlesque, but why hurt q nice girlA
| feelings?
Mr.. Thorpe laid aside the manu-
script and took walk A boy told
him in which direction to walk tc
pass Major Lees residence. He didn't
know exactly why he wanted to pass
| II. but he walked on. The major was
sitting on the veranda with his cigar
and Providence ordained that sum
mer shower should begin to fall al
that moment
| Come In, sir--come under shelter
till it's Overt" called tho old soldier
and the invitation was taken adyan
tage Of
The two discussed politics and
other things and exchanged names
The major received the impression
that Mr. Thorpe had selected the vii
lage in which to pass month or 80.
and perhaps gather material for an
other book. This gave him an open
Ing TO relate the death OF the parrot
and the construction of the poem, and
to add In his blunt way:
Yes: mailed the poem to our paper
last night. I've been told that the edi'
tor is an ass, but perhaps he'll see the
beauties In these verses. If he doesn't
I'll call at his office and make It my
business TO find out why he isn't run.
ming n sawmill"
The Eagle" was to be issued In
three days. II the poem did not 90 IN
the major would keep his word. But
Mr. Thorpe was determined that +,
shouldn't go In He would dodge the
major. He would even bride the Office
boy to lie.
On the dag the paper was to be IS
sued, he encountered the man OF wal
on the street and was taken home
with him for another talk on the yer
anda On this occasion he was intro
duced to Mrs. Lee and daughter, and
two hours had passed very pleasantly
when n boy brought copy OF the
Eagle" 1t was hurricdly opened by
the major No poem!
Nellie. my hat and cane!" he shout
ed. I'm going down there and cal
that editor fool"
Away he went Ii spite OF protesta
tons, and after he was outside tho
gate. Miss Nellie said:
oh, do so hope he won't find th'
editor in! It was an awful foolish
thing to send such poem as that
: Mr.. Thorpe, can't you help me TO sc
1t back? want to get 1t withou
father knowing It,"
Mr.. Thorpe promised to see wha
could be done. The major found thu
editor out, and that lie brought tn
Office boy SO cents. The next day !
was so cents more, and the next ant
the next. Then the major gave up tn
quest. His emotions over the dealt
" OF Poll had begun to wane.
= Every two or three days Mr. Thorp
!, occupied a seat on the veranda for
= time, and then he began to be invite
to dinner. The editor returned fror
>, California, but still Mr.. Thorpe lii
gered. It was at the end OF tire
ID, months, with a trip now and then {
the city, that he major said to him:
YES. go in and win her II you car
D., Hang you. you rascal. / found OF
= that you suppressed that poem on m,
," k,,N 7 ha iafd I'm aQalDet VIM