VIII
THE COURSE OF EVENTS
Matters seemed to start with an exasperating lack of rapidity—so much so that in midsummer Perner declared they seemed considerably farther from the first issue now than they had been on the night at the Hotel Martin. It is true, he had a "dummy" put together, all blank except the first page and the department headings, while at the printer's there was almost enough matter to fill the blank columns, if only Stony and Van would talk less and complete the drawings they had started.
He said despairingly one morning to Barrifield, who had dropped in for a moment:
"We ought to be running a semi-annual instead of a weekly. I think we could just about get out two issues of the paper in a year."
Barrifield assured him that they were doing beautifully, and that matters would go like clockwork when once they got started. For himself, he declared that he was getting along swimmingly, and displayed a number of more or less impossible premiums which he had pursued by mysterious and exciting methods to that guarded and hidden chamber which he still referred to in hushed tones as the "inside." He had also made a discovery in the way of an advertising man whom he described as being the very man for the place—in fact, a jewel!
"Recommended by Jackson, of the Jackson & Marsh Advertising Agency," he announced triumphantly, "and by Rushly, of the 'Home Monthly'—been with them two years and had the benefit of Rushly's training. Says Bates—that's his name—is a great hustler."
"Why doesn't he stay with the 'Home,' then?" Perner spoke rather impatiently.
"No chance of advancement. Rushly is head man there and certain to stay. Bates wants to begin with a new paper that is sure to go. I was talking to Jackson to-day about what we were going to do and he mentioned Bates. Jackson, by the way, thinks our scheme great. He'd take stock in it in a minute if we'd let him."