Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-04-29
HOW THE STORY
WAS FINISHED /,
The Office Hack Gets a Start
In Literature.


Azine consisted of, first. the editor and
proprietor. Edward Faynham, capltai-
list and litterateur; two readers and a
young man named Arthur Otis. who
did odd jobs In the making up" that
were not considered OF sufficient Inn
portance to take up the time OF the
others.
One day Mr.. Farnham laid manu-
script novel on Otis desk and said:
'There's a novel by Donald Fox. 1
want you to go over 1t and get 1t
ready for the printer" Mr.. Farnham
usually gave his orders, to Otis espe-
cially, without comment. but today he
was very much pleased and added:
I'VE must begin that In May. I've
been keeping a place for It, Anything
by Fox will increase the circulation 30
per cent. 1t ought to. II 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 reply to anything
the head Of the concern said. He took
the manuscript and began to work
upon 1t Immediately. The next day he
took 1t to his chief and pointed out
what he considered defect, suggest
ing that 1t be referred back to the au-
thor to be changed. Mr.. Farnham
scowled. examined the pages referred
to and told Otis that he was not en-
ployed to tell eminent writers how to
write novels.
When Otis had concluded his work
he laid the manuscript on Mr.. Farm
hams desk and remarked:
81 see. sir, that the work is not fin
ished."
"Mr. Fox has promised to have 1t all
in by the required time"
"But. SIR" said the clerk. as shade
of anxiety passed over his face. don't
you fear that If anything should hap
pen to Mr.. Fox
"wellp" said the. manager in icy
tone.
could any one else finish it"
mo, but I'm going to take the risk"
In due time the story appeared. and
its reception was far beyond what the
cisms were fine, all critics noting the
new departure of the author.
One day when the story had been
running six months Otis noticed gen.
tleman whom 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.
The next morning Otis stood by his
chiefs desk waiting permission to
speak.
"wellT said the manager. looking
up.
"Have you read these chapters of
Mr.. Fox's novelf asked the under.
Btrapper.
"No."
"They are entirely unlike the rest.
The public VIII not believe Mr.. Fox
wrote them. They are very abrupt"
It 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
1t 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 literary man who had done
some good work to write the story at
cents word. The author had been
taken i'll 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-
lion Otis walked humbly to the chiefs
desk
would you like, sir, Mr.. Fox's novel
continued in the same vein as the ear
her chaptersT
"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 sto-
ry?" asked Otis.
Farnham looked at the young man
with amusement. None Of his en-
ployees had ever dared ask him about
the terms Of his contracts before.
''Do you know your businessp'
eyes, sir. But. .sss,
swell, do 1t. and let other peoples
business alone"
ave understood that Mr.. Fox was
to get 10 cents a word and that he
gubTet the work for s cents word.
but don't know how long the story
was to be-"
"Well. sir, why should you known
"Because-the fact is. Mr.. Farnham,
I'm interested"
Interested! You impudent"
Eyes. sir; pecuniariIy interested.
You see. Mr.. Farnham. Mr.. Fox got
10 cents word and sublet II to Andy
Nichols at 5 cents. Nichols sublet 1t
to me at cents word. That's pref
ty poor pay. you know. but IL I'm to
be permitted to string IT ont can
make good thing after ALL"
There was dead silence in the edi-
torial rooms for thirty seconds. Then
the chief said:
''Run it to suit yourself at 10 cents
a word"
And that's how Arthur Otis got his
start ID literature.