Paul and the Printing Press

noisy clamor of conversation and laug

m sure there is not one of you who does not want to make our class a unique and illustrious one. The Burmingham High

pau

s up. Why should we not write ourselves up-chronicle our

ghter greeted t

Once a storm of clapping broke in upon his words but he raised his hand and the noise ceased. Quietly he closed his modest speech with the suggestion that a man

t!" shouted M

me at the same mome

dent!" The cry rang from

d to each sp

nimous but insistent

voted in as business manager, and Billie Ransome as publicity agent. Nor did 1920's fervor end there. Before the meeting adjourned every

's desk, was the center of an adm

going to get the paper prin

yet," replied

how much money we

t? He publishes the Echo, and Mel is our busin

sta

le did, either. He's kind of a grouch. Still, he couldn't do more than refuse. Of c

t on us. Besides, maybe he wouldn't. Perhaps he'd enjoy fostering young genius. You said

th what the subscribers pay for it. I mean to put in politics, poetry,

f!" chuckled Donald. Then he added hastily: "There's Mel

urrying across the corr

, C

came to

with your father printin

s almost speechles

with your father printing the March Hare? He prints t

s plainly d

fice is such a darn busy place. My father is driven most to death. Besi

decent paper he might like to help us out? Who knows but some of us may become distingu

got a wily tongue! You've kissed

to be cajoled f

p to your Pater whe

hole. I wouldn't dare. Straight goods, I wouldn't. You don't know my dad. Why, he wouldn't even hear m

tely refuse

d a wretched f

else. He isn't like other people. I'd go to any one else in a minute. But Father's so-well, it would just take more nerve than I

nod

s

an awkwa

objection to somebod

ou

ssi

d. "I don't see why you shouldn't if you want

any more than

right!" Melville ex

the editor-in-chief with

down and swept out of the office befor

esponded Paul deliberately. "I

heav

y n

Father as mad as hops to be disturbe

posed to kno

-o

l firmly. "Your father will have more leisure th

isten to yo

t," said Paul. "At least I can m

sted Melville. "I hate to hav

t allow myself to expect much. Even if your father doe

elville asserted dubiously. "He'l

ism he was more than hal

se-fisted, and sharp at a bargain,-a person of few friends and many enemies. He was a great fighter, carrying a grudge to any length for the sheer pleas

k it. Hence that evening, directly after dinner, he made his way to the mansion of Mr. Art

talist was at home and at leisure; and with beating heart the

him politely but

ealings with your father," he remar

ly of similar tenor. With a gulp of apprehension the lad struggled to ma

father," suggested the great man, after h

er. "I came on my own account. I wanted to know if you wouldn't like to

repeated Mr. Car

dded si

d Mr. Carter majestically. "

dicrous incongruity as

going to get out a High School

nt. He seemed too stunne

s never had a paper before, but I don't see why it shouldn't. We're all studying E

, in

r was it ridicule, in the word

plan to have the school news and some more serious articles in it. We've go

do you co

we need a

print this remar

r." There was a silence. Mr. Cart

fellows some business experience and at the same time some pr

subscriber

replied. "But to-day I have a hundred and fifty; b

idly," remarked Mr. Carter, the

oes," came inno

would you wish t

each month from October to June. With our studies,

," agreed Mr. Ca

you plan to have?" he

It would depend on how much space we co

gnate

mind. Was he preparing to burst into a tirade of ri

f a cover, of course," Paul

ors, I

s,

aper and cl

not noting the increasing

u charge for an an

ar and

get out a paper such as you propose?" T

, s

than you have to offer, young man." With a c

irm is concerned," replied Paul, turning toward the d

ad actually considered the proposal a strictly business one. He had thought that he came to wheedle and

y," he observed. "Let us talk the thing over a little

the library table and, lighting it,

cho. He has none too cordial feeling toward me personally, and in addition he says my paper is too conservative. Then there are firms that I can't get to advertise with us-business houses in the

chair, regarding Paul

I?" gasped Pa

shrugged hi

er, for instance, will certainly want this venture of yours to succeed. Tell him that if he

urst out Paul, the

itics and we've had one bad set-to on the subject. He won't take my pape

you want to m

nt you to get him to. That's

flu

Mr. Carter, "I am sure you can easily carry that through. Th

s,

from the firm of George L. Kimbal

O

n The League of Nations. He's an authority on international law and the best man I know to handle the subject. He has

March Hare literary

to bring me the six articles I'm after. Then you boys flax round and get me ten new firms to

e elder man cu

l r

ood of you, si

Carter with shame-faced haste. "Remember I said that when you had fulfilled

re we can fu

very certa

eel

ou ever tried

, s

ther why he didn'

N

m an article out

hook h

remarked Mr. Carter, rising. "I'd w

esture of farewell he swe