Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-04-16
THE STORY
WAS NOT FOR
PUBLICATION
BY MICHAEL WHITE
20 by Short Story Pub. Coz

~ prised two letters. One bore
l. n the Johannesburg, South At
RIGA, postmark the other was
a rather too familiar long envelope,
containing a story returned from the
Red Blood Magazine Allen gave pref
erence to the johannesburg letter. A
glance at the subscription revealed
that 1t came from Ethel Hoyt, girl
friend. The body of the letter dis
closed that she had joined her broth
er, who had been brought from Amer
lea by way Of Australia to superin-
tend the building Of mining machinery
In South Africa. To this she added
some interesting information about
Johannesburg, and concluded with
certain sentiments which do not prop
erly belong to the public.
Allen liked the johannesburg letter
very much more than the Red Blood
Magazine missive which he then took
In hand. Accompanying his returned
story was personal note from the
editor, who, in expressing his regret
at being compelled to reject Mr.. AL
lens story, wished to point out that
what he wanted was the strong arm
adventurer, up to his neck in daring
exploits, and with the howl of the
wild ringing In every sentence. The
last expression gripped Aliens literary
sense--howl Of the wild ringing in ev-
cry sentence. Beautiful
His eyes fell on the letter from Jo-
hannesburg, then wandered back to
the Red Blood Magazine epistle. He
rubbed his chin thoughtfully for sew
eral minutes, smiled and nodded.
"It-wouldn't-quite out with
Jack Hoyt," he murmured, "but-I
guess I could depend on Ethel. Yes
l can depend on her. By the Lord
Harry I'll try It,"
Now the Razorblade building was
one Of the sights of the city. 1t shot
up a narrow wedge Of steel and brick
in the air twenty-five stories, but be-
cause in sea-borne gales of wind there
was oscillation enough in the three
upper tiers to stop a clock, floor %,
occupied by the Red Blood Magazine,
was as high as people cared to con
duct business In that building. There
fore the manager was bit surprised
when Allen strolled in with the object
of renting the three upper stories.
"Tll tell you," explained Allen. '"The
fact is I'm troubled with a peculiar
nervous disorder. l have been to two
doctors about 1t. One says l must live
Vt considerable elevation, the other
holds to It that what I need is sea
ozone. Both are agreed should have
quiet. Now about the only place
can find to combine the three Is the
top of your building. Elevation, sea
ozone, and quiet, I should judge, are
right up there most of the time.
know, of course, the floors are not
rented on account of the oscillation,
but l rather like the motion on an
ocean steamer, and guess nothing
worse is to be anticipated from your
building"
The manager looked Allen over, ap-
peared satisfied regarding his desir-
ability as a tenant, and tapped the pad
ON his desk rehectively.
WELL" he said at last, "Tll make
you a proposition. I'll let you have
those three upper floors rent free for
six months, If you win agree to reside
In them, and at the end sign state
ment declaring you have not suffered
scare or inconvenience during that
period from the oscillation. That
should enable me to get other tenants
subsequently"
"All right" nodded Allen. ."That will
suit me, provided am not to be both
cred by anyone. l don't want even
the elevator run up there, for / must
have absolute quiet on account Of my
nervous trouble"
Certainly" agreed the manager.
an give orders that no one disturbs
you"
Thus Allen became the lone tenant
Of floors %, "a, 25, Of the Razorblade
building, as before remarked floor %
being occupied by the Red Blood
Magazine. He moved in late one eve
ming, bringing with him quite library
of African travel. One room sufficed
for his personal habitation, but 1t is
to be noted that he decorated the walls |
with a map Of Africa, African warllke
trophies, and skins Of beasts reputed |
to have come from Africa. In this |
African atmosphere Allen completely |
Obscured himself, his only relaxation
Latn0 tniE In thu rI Ia
There he might have been seen lost
in profound study Of the lions, rhlnos
and hippopotaml
In week or two, had there been |
anyone TO listen, the click Of his type |
writer might have been heard night |
after night, but as the office OF the |
Red Blood Magazine below closed at |
five o'clock, Aliens nocturnal proceed |
ings remained a secret. Had the post |
Office authorities, also, cared to OBJ |
serve, they might have noticed quite |
going on between
Floors %, "a, Is, Razorblade building,
and johannesburg, South Africa In |
about six weeks time they might have
further discovered that johannesburg, |
South Africa, began sending bulky |
long envelopes to the Office of the Red
Blood Magazine, Floor %, Razorblade
building Shortly after this, Allen lit
orally dropped down to see the editor.
He found him beaming all over, as
editors are apt to do when they fore
see a booming circulation.
"Hello Allenw he cried. Where
have you been all this time2-WhatI
Over In Jersey digging up historical