The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-01-28

Of San Francisco before the esrth-6Te
/ should ssy-when Grant avenue was
the stamping ground of innumersble fax
ers operating, il charged, cum per
missu superiorm The editor and proprietor
OF the Iate unlamented Rinky Dink Monthly
and It's Minor Poet and general literary
hack. Mr.. Oscar Algernon Bolts, were stroll
ing along that thoroughfare one Saturday
evening, discussing such widely varying
themes as "Litcrature' and Making tho
Magazine Pay
The Minor Poet s idea was as high as the
apartments he occupied when at home, like
wise trihc vague and shsdowy, resembling
bis weekly promises 10 the landlady. Mr..
Bottss theory was that there is melody
like that of tho song unsung, no power
like that OF the upspoken word; in plain
terms that the ideas which suggested
rather than affirmed welded the greater in
fuenee.
II see your point +" said the editor "What
you are trying TO say has already been set
In cold type II you will examine your re-
lection slips YOU will observe that il is the
unavailable manuscripts which possess tho
literary merit; that quality so ardently covct
cd ny the novice.
- We'll, that "a fact- eIclalme1 the VI, T.
warmly "athough il is not the point am
trying 20 make. Ny idea is that hint is
more alluring than definite promise, just as
promise is more alluring than the reality
''Are you trying to saw that an unpaid
subscription on the books is more beautiful
thing 70 contemplate than a Please find
check herewith -
90. pshaw. it's Just like YOU always to
try 10 mix your business with literature.
Now look here: / will show you man who
is AZ this moment turning my theory into
cash, though I'll admit that he never works
twice in the same town. ! saw him last week
in San Jose at the street fair. It you III
stop about twenty minutes and listen 10 him,
| m convinced that even your dull and lit
eral minl will grasp my beautiful theory of
tho lure of the word unutterci. the song
sung the promise unmade and therefore never
TO he broken
Above the clstter and clang Of cable ears
chatter of the SATURDAY. night crowd the
editor and Minor Poet heard clear, strident
intonatiop that had the drawing quality of
n magnet. Mr.. Bolts. forgetting that he was
master of English exclaimed "That s
him.''
q
hsring gasoline torch threw it's glare on a
hundred or more upturned faces, the posses
of the magnetic voice stood revealed
above the mob. middle aged man, dressed
in quiet gray tweeds and spotess linen, a
soft pearl colored hat on his cropped head.
His heavy grizzled mustache was ruthlessly
stubbed over thin lips TO that scrubbng brush
effect which has replaced the flowing and
ei1 v.h in Yha r;r nf oh
finance. His features were forceful; eyes cold,
gray and alert. prominent cleft chin. a
well formed aquiline and at each nostrl.
those deeply craven lines. unmistakable au.
tograpb of a sneer. Until he opened his mouth
10 speak might readily take him for a
gentleman.
''Now. gents he saving :" want
YOU TO observe that | have here four of
these mysterious little red boxes contents
unknown. and four playing cards, which /
will not conceal. Just to prove that every
thing is open and above board. As you see,
they are the jack Of spades. the king and
queen of the same suit, and the joker. Now
T want four gents in this audience 10 buy
these four boxes oontsiuing-thcre, | nearly
LEI IL out! | II Just remark that il one Of
the greatest inventions of science-T gener-
hllv sell them at sl65. but tonight they are
going at four bits apiece Just TO interdooee
the goods-snd the first four sports that
speculstes are going 10 get big prize. Step
up. gents. and show your sporting blood,
Who game oncl All. thank you. sir; thank
yon thank YOU. thank you. sir,'
-Four bored looking gents different IN
superficial appearance, but all with the in
dohpsbc earmarks of the capper. had elbowed
their way from the edge of the crowd IN
the speaker ard passed UP their money. Two
IF them paid with double eagles which were
changed with scrupulous accuracy.
'Tho four gents as bsve proved their
sporting blood viii now observe what / 10.
Here is the queen Of spades: I tear the
card IN bslf. ono half I give to this here
gent what took tho FIRST box, the other half
lay on the table before me and on il place
his purchase. an On top o. that ! Law tins
here four-bit piece. the same as the gent