The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-08-22
}, the Congressional Reco-d-after II

with amazement Then he read II
with anger The third time he read
It he used cuss.words for punctuation
marks and the! stood up TO say:
THE ignoramus Why, that editor
doesn't know enough to edit a sand
pile, and I'll write and tell him SOL"
Mr., Rankin carried out his threat
He had an epistle in the nlail.box with
In the hour that was warranted &c
make the editorial hair curl and klnk
The policy of the magazine editor lie
never to strike back nor make per
sonal explanations. When he has
handed a manuscript to the Office boy
to be returned to the author that is
the end OF the affair, except in rare
instances This was rare instance
J. A. Bennett wrote back that the man,
uscript had been declined because oil
its length.
Mr.. Rankin pointed out the fact that
the magazine had printed four longer
ones within the year.
J. A. Bennett wrote that the situa.
lions were overdrawn and impossible
Mr.. Rankin pointed out the fact that
he had his heroine climbing an ice.
berg as she sat in the saddle of her
broncho, and that the fact was Meth
err unnatural nor impossible. The
women OF the far west were perform
ing the feat every day.
]. A. Bennett wrote that great
deal OF profanity had been introduced
into the conversations, and every
reader must be more or less shocked
He even had his heroine exelaim:
Damn IT."
Mr.. Rankin replied that this was
the age Of profanity The trusts had
set everybody TO swearing. and pro
family was on the increase, and the
only recourse the public had AS fol-
his heroine, she was a strong charac.
ter to begin with and In the second
place she had found herself lost on the
plains Just as night and a blizzard and
q band Of hostile Indians were ap
preaching. Under those circum
stances should heroine exclaim:
20. fudge!"
J. A. Bennett said that so many
grammatical errors were found In the
story that It would have to be largely
overhauled.
Mr.. Rankin replied that he was q
graduate of Yale, and that II he
couldn't demonstrate in public or pri'
vate that he knew more about gram
mar in a minute than J. A. b. did In
week he would eat his hat.
]. A. B. then pointed out that the
discussion was closed.
Mr.. Rankin replied that the
other had best look for job of saving
wood, and that II he ever ran across
him he would take great pleasure in
punching his head
A week later j. A. Bennett went TO
the country on fortnlght's vacation.
Mr.. Rankin was only Il day later in
starting. Fate planned that they
| they should both select the same no.
tel. Fate planned that on the third
day after Mr.. Rankin's arrival he
huOllu EO NuiDtiNb Ou ihC llNSls iit
knew his craft and was safe. Some
one else went canoeing at the same
time that didn't understand the fads
and fancies OF that make OF craft. II
was young woman, and she had only
reached the deepest spot for a mile
up and down when over went the ca
noe. Mr. Rankin heard her screams
and arrived at the spot in prompt
time She was resting on the bottom
but he dove and found her. and she
was carried to the hotel to be revived
Some one told him that 1t was a Miss
Bennett, and that's all he knew about
her till the next day, when she sent
/ for him TO express her gratitude.
Miss Bennett was a little draggy
yet, but able to praise Mr.. Rankin as a
great hero. She surely owed her life
to him, and she couldn't find words to
tell her feelings.
And by the way" she smiled, care
you any relation 10 Mr.. Charles
Worthington Rankin"
why, ! am he!"
A terrible pause ensued and then he
asked:
"Can you be related to J. A. Ben
nett?"
"Why, ! am she!"
At least half the magazines have
women to read and pass on contribu
lions, and they always sign theil
names to mislead as to sex.
Did Mr.. Rankin punch J. A. BIZ
head? Oh, no. He began TO admire
instead. and in three days he knew
that he was in love. He had saved
her life. Why shouldn't she admire
and love In turn? She won't be {
story.reader much longer. and he has
already decided that as story writ
er he Is not q success.