The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-05-02
Two Of them: the rest were return

y
available. Editor Westbrook had his
own clear conception of what consti-
tuted good fiction: so had Dave. Mrs.
Dave was mainly concerned about the
constituents Of the Scanty dishes of
food that she managed to scrape to-
gether. One day Dave had been
spouting to her about the excellencies
Of certain French writer's. At dinner
they sat down to Il dish that a hungry
schoolboy could have encompassed at
gulp. Dave commented
Its Maupassant hash" said Mrs.
Dave. ''It may not be art. but | do
wish Eon would do five course Mar
Jon Crawfor serial with an Ella
Wheeler Wilcox sonnet for dessert.
I'm hungry"
AS far as this from success was
Shackleford Dave when he plucked
Editor Westbrook's sleeve in Madison
square. That was the first time the
editor had seen Dave in several
months
''Why, Shack. is this your said
Westbrook, somewhat awkwardly. for
the form Of his phrase seemed to touch
upon the others changed appearance.
''Sit down for a minute" said Dave.
tugging at his sleeve This is my
office. l can't come to yours looking
as l do. Oh. sit down! You won't be
disgraced. Those half plucked birds
OH the other benches will take you for
swell porch climber. They won't
know you are only an editor
Smoke. Shack?" said Editor West
brook. sinking cautiously upon the vir-
ulent green bench. He always yielded
gracefully when he did yield.
Dave snapped at the cigar as king
fisher darts at sun perch or girl
pecks at a chocolate cream.
How goes the writing?'' asked the
editor.
Look at me-" said Dave. for your
answer. Now. don't put on that EN-
barrassed, friendly. but honest look
and ask me why l don't get Il job aS
wine agent or a cab driver. I'm in
the fight to finish. | know can
write COED fiction. and I'll fierce ycu
fellows to admit it yet I'll make you
change the spelling Of regrets t.
'c-h-e-c-k' before I'm done with You"
Editor Westbrook gaZed through his
nose glasses with sweetly sorrrwrnl
! omniscient. sympathetic. skerti Il! cN
pression-the copyrighted expression:
of the editor beleaguered by the un
available contributor.
Have you read the last story ! se;l
you. The Alarum of the Soul!'" asked
Dave.
Carefully. hesitated over thai
story. Shack: really l did. 1t had
some good points. | was writin. yo,
letter to send with it when it goes
back to you. l regret
"Never mind the regrets saiG
Dave grimly. There's neither salvt
nor sting in 'em any more What
want to know is why Come now
out with the good points first"
THE story" said Westbrook delib
erately after suppressed sigh. Il:
written around an almost original plO
characterization. the best you hav'
done: construction. almost as good
except for few weak joints whicl
might be strengthened by Il few
changes and touches. 1t is a gOol
story. except
Il can write English. can't IT, inter
rupted Dave.
81 have always told YOU said th'
editor. that you had style"
"Then the trouble is the
Same old thing" said Editor West
brook. You work up to your china.
like an artist. and then you turn your
self into photographer don't know
what form of obstinate madness pos
seSses you. Shack. but that is what yoV
do with everything that YOU write
No: will retract the comparison witt
the photographer Now and then pho
Biography. in spite of its impossibl
perspective. manages to record il fleet
ing glimpse of truth. But you sioi
every den0uenent by those fiat. dral
obiiterating strokes Of your brush tl;l
have so often complained Of If yo
would rise to the literary pinnacle 0
your dramatic scenes and paint the.
in the high colors that art requires iii
postman would leave fewer bulky. sci
addressed envelopes at your door
"Oh. fddies and footlights." erie
Dave derisively. you've got that oil
When the man with the back mn:
tache kidnaps golden haired BESSIE yo
are bound to have the mother knee
and raise her hands in the spot ligl
and say. May high heaven witne.
that l will rest neither night nor d;,
till the heartless villain that has ST.
len me child feels the weight Of
mothers vengeance!
Editor Westbrook conceded a smi
Of imperviOus cOmplacency.
II think. said he. that in real Iii
the woman would express herself
those words or in very similar ones. :"
Not in a six hundred nights ri
anywhere but on the stage" said DaN
hotly. I'll tell you what she'd say
real life She'd say: What. Bcss
led away by strange man: Coo
: Lord. It's one trouble after anotlr
Get my other hat. must hurry irous
to the police station. Why WASH
, somebody looking after her. I'd like
know? For Gods sake. get out
my way or I'll never get ready. y
that hat-the brown one with the Y,
vet bows. Bessie must have be-
!. crazy She's usually shy of stranger
, Is that too much powder? Lord
, how I'm upset.
! That's the way she'd talk CO
+ tinued Dave. people In real Il
!, don't fly into heroics and blank vc!