"'"Ha! ha!" he laughed in demoniac glee, "the night is well fitted to my purpose. Ere it passes, Isabella Gomez shall be mine."'"
"I think that will do," said Mr. Houghton, hastily. "I am afraid that style won't suit our readers."
"Why not?" demanded Prunella, sharply. "I can assure you, sir, that it has been praised by excellent judges in our village."
"It is too exciting for our readers. You had better carry it to 'The
Weekly Corsair.'"
"Do they pay well for contributions?"
"I really can't say. How much do you expect?"
"This story will make about five columns. I think twenty-five dollars will be about right."
"I am afraid you will be disappointed. We can't afford to pay such prices, and the 'Corsair' has a smaller circulation than our paper."
"How much do you pay?"
"Two dollars a column."