The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-08-10

WINGED that 1t 10 one Of the great sto-
ries of the century. but as his two
children are down with the measles
he must decline with thanks.
Mr.. Rankin read this prescription
with amazement. Then he read it
with anger. The third time he read
it he used cuss-words for punctuation
marks and then stood up to say:
"The ignoramus! Why, that editor
doesn't know enough to edit sand
pile, and I'll write and tell him sol"
Mr.. Rankin carried out his threat.
He had an epistle in the mail-box with
In the hour that was warranted to
make the editorial haiE-curl and kink.
The policy Of the magazine editor IL
never to strike back nor make per-
sonal explanations. When he has
handed manuscript to the office boy
to be returned to the author that is
the end of the affair, except in rare
instances. This was a rare instance.
j. A. Bennett wrote back that the man.
uscript had been declined because Of
its length.
Mr.. Rankin pointed out the fact that
the magazine had printed four longer
ones within the year.
]. 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 neith-
er 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 exclaim:
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 for
his heroine, she was strong charac-
ter to begin with, and in the second
place she had found herself lost on the
plains just as night and blizzard and
a band Of hostile Indians were ap-
preaching. Under those circum-
stances should heroine e1claim:
20, fudge!"
]. 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 a
graduate of Yale, and that If he
couldn't demonstrate in public or pri-
vate that he knew more about gram
mar in a minute than ]. A. B. did In
q week he would eat his hat.
J. 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 IL he ever ran across
him he would take great pleasure in
punching his head.
A week later ]. A. Bennett went to
the country on fortnight's vacation.
Mr.. Rankin was only a 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
should go canoeing on the river. He
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. It
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 q little draggy
yet. but able to praise Mr.. Rankin as q
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, "are
you any relation to 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.
tions, and they always sign their
names to mislead as to sex.
Did Mr.. Rankin punch J. A. BIS
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 q
story-reader much longer, and he has
already decided that as story writ
er he Is not success.