It was a two-storied stone building, evidently a dwelling house as well as a printing office; for there were two doors—one apparently a private door, leading into a narrow hall; the other the public door, broad and rough, and leading into the business rooms. Besides the upper windows were hung with Norfolk lace curtains and adorned with pots of geraniums, while the lower windows were shaded with dust and draped with cobwebs, and sustained above them the broad signboard—Angleton Advertiser.
When the carriage drew up before this building the three travelers alighted and went in.
The driver of the vehicle remained in his seat in charge.
The party of three found themselves in a very dingy room, with a counter on their right hand, at the nearest end of which a man stood writing at a desk. At the furthest end a boy stood folding and wrapping papers.
“Is this the office of the Angleton Advertiser?” needlessly inquired Mr. Force of the gentleman behind the desk.
“It is. What can I have the pleasure of doing for you, sir?” inquired the latter.
“You are the proprietor?” half asserted, half inquired the squire.
“Proprietor, editor, printer and publisher,” answered the man, reaching behind him and taking from a shelf a copy of his paper, which he offered to his visitor, saying: “Out to-day, sir; and there’s my name.”
“Ah!” said Mr. Force, spreading the paper before him, and looking first at the prospectus for the name of his new acquaintance.
“Can I be of any service to you, sir?” inquired the proprietor.