El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-07-17

or regrets -'
As if he ever saw the story"
The despised and rejected contributor
one r. a. CatOr-snatGhed a pen,
dipped it ~furiously IN the ink. and
wrote as follows.
Dear Sir.-By tonights post a mort
] story of mine reached me, with the
! usual formula-yOur regrets. Eat facts
/ lead me to the conclusion that you
cannot possibly have req the story.
Then why 'regretg 1 posted it this
morning at 1870. Presumably it
since personally addressed to you. And
at $50 ii was again in the post-with
your regretsi'
Now, the editor of the magazine in
I questiOn-'The Crown" to be precise
was something new in editors. one
pictures them a collection of dust dry.
middleaged creatures who drink ink,
| eat fOOlscap, and brandish blue pencils.
I The pilot of The Crown" didn't fit
that picture on scrap.
He was a young. joviaI soul, and,
though not actually an Adonis, tOler-
ably good looking, and invariably we'll
humOr. Cynics have observed that
editors are better off with out it, but
that's a matter Of opinion.
Having digested r A. Gators in
furiated epistle, the editors sense of
humOr turned up trumps. and he, in
his turn, put pen TO paper, n wrote
thus:
Dear Mr.. Cator-A thousand apol-
ogiesl Having been a free lance once,
1 ought to have known better than TO
strain your powers of credulity in such
a careless manner. To be strictly
truthful-though this statement will
doubtless surprise yOu-I did read your
story. And it was with real regret I
decided it wasn't quite suitable for
The Crown" Send along some more
stories, and come up one day-Tuesday
afternoon Is best for ma-1nd We car
discuss some ideas.-YOurs truly.
RICHARD Scale"
About a week later Richard Scale
bade farewell to a talkat1ye caller with
a sigh of relief Sitting down in his
chair, he shaped a formidable pile of
short stories with a pencil. Cupid.
though he did not know it, was percheo
on his shoulder.
Life" pondered Richard Seale.-the
next number weighing on his mind
Life is sad. I must go to a musical
comedy tonight Let nc see 1872
A small bright eyed boy entered
abruptly.
"Yes?' inquired the pilot of The
Crown"
can" He thrust forward a strip OF
p~asteboard.
Hiss Rosalind Ames," read the
editor, indicating with a nod that he
would see Miss Ames.
She vas pretty; in fact. she was very.
very pretty. One glance told him that
much; the next showed hin that under
her assured manner she was very nerv-
GUS. Much experience had helped him
to read humanity with swiftness and
accuracy.
Good afternoon" said he kindly.
I'm sorry ] had to keep you waiting.
Today'S rather busy, and"
Please don't ~apolslze,' begged Miss
ROlalind Ames. The waiting room
proved most amusing and Instructive"
She sank gracefully into the chair he
dr1 TUnd forward Faafn- tho 1FohN
Her complexion stood the test. OF
course. he had known it would; but he
was one Of those men who prefer TO
test their theories when possible. Lean
ing back in his chair. long legs crossed
with n~onchalant ease, he regarded her,
under lowered eyelids, with skill born
Of much practice.
Il wonder if I could do some work
for The Crown ROsalind Ames was
saying. Her voice was soft and rather
low, but very distinct.
Before she left. Scale had promised
to give her literary efforts careful con
sideratiOn.
Miss Ames, besides being pretty.
proved enterprising- A story bearing
her name arrived the next morning.
Richard Scale raid it, and it irrftated
him strangely.
The story was accepted pounded into
shape on the editorial table, duly to
Durst mo the glory Of print And
Rosallnd Ames continued to visit the
OFFICES Of The Crown" How could
she help it? Work had to be discussed
One day as Scale sat smoking while
a stack OF manuscripts languished. I'M
a at his elbow. the office boy ap-
peared, and extended Il card.
r A Gator" read the editor. cat
or? Gator? Who is, oh. I remember
Yes III see him now"
The boy vanished. Two minutes
fled into eternity. Then Rosalind Ames
opened the door.
rose. ="
How d you do?" he began. half
stammering.
"I"er-I wanted to see YOU. but
III have to ask You to wait half a sec
ond- They ought not to have sent YOU
up There's a man coming, now. I
must see him-an old promise. WIN
you-er-"
Pm R A. Gator. Are you angry,
Her tone was anxious.
Angry Oh, no: but WHY. D1ease7u
We'll, you wouldn't accept the work !
Of R A Gator" continued the girl 80
l thought I'd try my luck as myself
KIND stories that have been returned
to R A Gator have brought checks To
HtosaIlnd Ames- I made up my mind
to win my bet, and then give IN writ |
ing ell, L won, with your holm /
Now do you understand" ~
Apparently he did.
She continued to write for aTLo
Crown" but later her stories ware
signed "Rosalind Ames Gator Sea1e"