The Cotton Factory Times. — 1909-01-15 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

SLIM, SLTE., AND Scud.  Parr was just finishing his message when Tommy. the office boy, looked in.  " You're wanted at the telephone, sir," he said in the sub-editor's room."  Right you are, Tommy," he replied. as he wound up his dispatch with 'The proceedings then terminated." The phrase is scarcely new; indeed, it clamours for cremation. But it's repeated use cost Parr nen'tra pang of compunction. Ile was expert at making barren commonplaces burst into full and kindly blossom--at the usual ratee. "Tommy," lie said to the office boy, as he opened the door of the telephone box, "run upntains and get my message for the *Blanktown Herald.' You'll find it on the table. And shin off to the Post Office with it as fast as you can. It's late enough already." Tommy ran upstairs. On the table he found the message, "Pare to `l3lanktown . . . .. .  Herald,' ,and lying cheek-by-jowl with it another message, "Blacker to • Übiquitous Nears Agency," containing Blacker's morbid and entirely imaginary account of Parr's dramatic suicide. Now, Tommy lived by gratuities which the reporters gave him for carrying their telegraphic montages to the Poet Office, and to hint two messages were better than one. He went to the drawer where the signed telegraphic parent were kept, the printed slips which authorise the Post Office to forward a Preer message and charge it to the reoipient'a aotount. Pinning a pees to each, and taking no further interest in either, he harried to the Post Office, and in a few minutes both messages were speeding over the wiree, a long and  To the Manager, Übiquitous News Agency, Loudon. "Every newspaper," gasped Magaihall, and he hastened to take counsel's opinion. with !venire very little re-asauring. . . .  Counsel learned in the law pointed out that on the ease, as submitted, Meows. Slim, Sage and Slim's client was undoubtedly entitled to suoceect in his claim against the newspapers whioh had published the defamatory parageaph complained of. That was clear. The new,papers could probably recover against the Agency vallioh misled them. On the other hand, the Ageuey would be entitled to prooeed against thins person who Seised the story, if that person tensed it wilfully and with intent. .  He had to point out however, that it wouki be difficult to prove responsibility. Blacker oratki hardly be held responsible for a message ho had not sent. nor Parr for a message he had Dot written or authorised. The case against the officious office boy was stronger. but it was a manor for the Übiquitous New. Agency to decide for itself .whether there wan any prcepeotof moosening damages fiom suck a quarter. He flwissfon, suggested a settleinent for a nominal ram from, each newspaper concerned, say three guineas each. "Phew' said the unhappy 3t11741811, guineas each: and there are a hunclited and four of them. - hinidieci anal twelve  That's tbr,,  guineas, to say nothing of crsta" Then a happy idea struck the hanaaradi Marshall, ore of those great thoughts that, strilorkeiong,, the brain and flush all the ohonit. Opening hia  ledger. he turned up the " Dulthown Evening Bluster" account, and *weed oat les irciabgecinets to the L;biquitous News Agency. It was three hundred and fifty poands.  Here was the Unquttotts News Ageteir ming the " Muster " for three huockred and fifty pounds; there was a member of the " Bc.e, " staff ,Aairoing against the Übiquitess New. Agency damages which counsel suggested should be met, for a stunt calculated at a little over three hrustired powlets. It was tree that the latter claire might liOC succeed; but, on the ntiter hand, if the "%MAC' were sold up, it was doubtful if the awrititnes would gt:et half-a-crown in the pound fawn a forced sale.  Mawhall's greftt idea wasp that teeth a situattioni abounded in the maAeria.l for a oosigawetrise. That evening a letter went out frdn the iniquitous News Agency to Mr. John Parr, Dull' town, and it breathed a spirit of sweet reetionahl, ness rare and 'Ma unwelcome_ It poinind out that its T_Thiquitc.tis News Agency, while repudiating the claim made on it, by 'Meier. Slim. Skye, and Slim, were anxious to continue good relations with the " Roster " office. It therefore, arrayed, without .preniclice, to setae the whole theinte by the payment to Mr. Parr of the twin of £2O, and the make over to him the debt which the "Bintee" office owed In the Trbiquitous News Agency_ This offer. however, wee sidijeci to immediate aceeptanoe, otherwise the taw mast fake tonemote. The, law did not take its coarse. Parr took the twenty pounds, and divided it with Blacker. Be FaWto OTIOP, that to sell up the 'Rueter," am, if he wished to do it, which, of mese, he did not, would give him a probiematical lump earn, and deprive hint of a permanent position, for, naturally, when be offered to withdraw the bailiffs if he were reinstated the off, was gratefully  SO-the bailiffs were withdrawn, and the "Boater." freed from the pressure of its nicert esseting creditor, once more got its head above water "It's the flint time," amid Blacker, as the bailiffs were esoorted off the premise., "that I've known the Übiquitous to be not quite all there." And it's the first time," Parr replied, as be shook Blacker cordially by the hand, •' that I've heard of killing a man to improve hit position ,ie  34/111  ,I  84), 111