The Argosy for May — page 163: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘some four years ago. 300 as I can. As I indicated, I graduated I was accounted bright enough in my studies, and ranked well enough up. I was rather versatile of accomplishments and found some difficulty in deciding upon my vocation in life. Finally, however, it seemed best to me to start a newspaper in a small way, for I had been particularly successful in college journalism. ‘Accordingly, I rented a little plant with a front office, and got out a first edition of what I was pleased to call 7'he Galloper. 1 worked pretty hard on the make-up of the sheet, and was more than satisfied when I scanned it over before I sent it out. But not fifteen minutes after the papers left the place an ac- quaintance of mine came trotting into the office. 5. >4 “ Well,’ said he, with a grin, ‘I’m blamed if I can see the joke in the thing, Dobson ; advertising wrinkle of yours.’ “*What’re you talking about?’ asked him. ‘“* Why, look here.’ He slipped from his pocket a copy of my new paper, The Galloper, then he once more fished into I ‘his coat and brought out another paper. “* Look at the date on this,” said he. ches Why, it’s the 30th,’ said T2s1t's ey first issue.’ ‘““* Now look at this one,’ and he prof- fered the other sheet to me. “That paper, which bore the strongest possible likeness to my own, was dated the 29th. “* What the—’ “¢ And what’s more,’ continued he, bought this paper yesterday’ What!’ I cried. “Then you know nothing of it?’ “ «Not I,’ I answered truthfully, but he went away, laughing at what he took for my drollery. “Three more days I tried to run that paper, but every one of my editions had been duplicated and set on sale; and, mark you this, before, a day before, I had printed them myself, or indeed had even written half of them. Somebody cer- tainly had a wonderful scoop on me. “Then, one night, I had an idea come to me while I was in bed. It was a patent for an automatic door-opener. It was asi practical in every detail—worked to a patent office. but I suppose it’s some new - THE ARGOSY. nicety. I got out my model of it and sent it to Washington. “The result? After the customary delay, I received a letter, along with my model, which was therewith returned. The letter stated that, by the most re- markable coineidence, they had issued the patent rights upon an identical affair such as mine, which they had received the very day before mine arrived at the ‘The letter even intimated that they wondered how / should have got hold of the idea so soon. Can you beat that? “Then I wrote a novel and took it to a publisher. I saw his brow cloud as he scanned the opening sentences of my manuscript; then he turned on me sharply. “ “You made a little mistake in bring- ing this particular manuscript to me,’ said he, ‘ for it happens that I have just, only yesterday, consented’ to publish the original? “The thing was getting on my nerves by now. Four other attempts I made to forestall my unseen and premature copy- ist. Until finally to-night the last straw fell on me. I’m not boring you?” “Scarcely,” answered the astrologer softly. “Of course, you must know,” the young man continued, ‘that my _ best efforts to succeed in the world were being put forth in the hope of inducing a cer- tain young lady to share her fortunes with—” ‘A-ha!”’ sibilated Chanedra. ‘ They are always in things.” ‘“'Ves,’’ assented the other, ‘‘ and this very night, frenzied almost beyond my- self, I rushed over to her house, threw myself at her feet, and poured out my love for her. Would she come to me and let ‘us make our way together?” ‘And the result? ”’ ‘ Listen. She was kind; too kind, for I guessed even before she had said it. Only last night she had been proposed to and had accepted that mythical, mystical enemy of mine!” “What!” cried the astrologer, be- trayed into genuine surprise. ‘‘ You have even seen this other?” ‘“ Oh, how I’ve tried! But something, almost uncanny, always prevents my run- ning up with him. He’s a veritable will- b>) (EO) 0)(0)(6) ANUG S (C@