He made a motion of emphatic dissent.
"What else have you done?"
"I taught myself shorthand," I said, "and I can take dictation as fast as you can talk."
He looked frankly skeptical and in no wise impressed.
"How can you do that if you've had no experience as a stenographer?"
"I got a shorthand book," I said eagerly. "It's not at all hard to teach yourself after you learn the rudiments. My sister showed me that. She's secretary to the Premier of Canada. As soon as I had learned shorthand, I acquired practice and speed by going to church and prayer-meetings and taking down sermons."
After a moment he said grudgingly:
"Not a bad idea." And then added, "What do you think you are going to do here?"
"Write for your paper," I said as conciliatingly as I could.
"What?" he inquired curiously.