Part 8 (1/2)

”Perhaps you know a better,” suggested the old man

”I knoorse, and I know one man the very man for 'The Observer'; but I doubt if he will come to you,” said the editor

”Why not?” asked Ebenezer Brown

”Because you sweat your employes No man but O'Connor would have worked as editor for the pittance you paid him Cairns certainly will require a fair salary and a free hand before he gives 'The Observer' a chance”

Ebenezer Brown recognised the truth of what the editor said His chief regret was that Michael O'Connor had not lived for ever However, after prolonged negotiations, he accepted Cairns on the latter's own terms

It was another matter, however, when the editor demanded a more capable lieutenant than Gifford Here he found Ebenezer Brown inexorable, for the sub-editor was linked to him by the triple bonds of flattery, usefulness, and influence He ard Ebenezer's every action as perfection; outside the office he assisted the old ht influence to bear in buttressing his position against the assaults of his chief The consequence was that he remained as nominal sub-editor, while Cairns deputed Desht, bore his chief and subordinate no love, but, being unable to injure Cairns, bent hie from the reporter

It was in his power to make his subordinate's life unpleasant, and this he accomplished to the utmost limit of his capability But he was not satisfied with this; his purpose in life was to ruin Desmond He sowed the seeds of dislike in Ebenezer Brown'sto accomplish when one was so careless as Des about, and verses of poetry which were like pointed barbs in the flesh of Ebenezer Brown But when the oldthe diserant that He is still a boy, and he acts on impulses, often mistaken ones He is very clever with his pencil, and does not care a hang whom he caricatures He has even had the cheek to sketch rowled Ebenezer

”I saw that, too I suppose Gifford exhibited it to you?” said Cairns

”Never ratitude,” replied the old hed the editor, dubiously

”Look what his father owed to ested Cairns ”I should put the ingratitude on one side O'Connor can go if you like, and I shall also retire”

”Oh, nonsense, Cairns! You have a good billet cried Ebenezer

”No better than I deserve, I assure you The long and short of it is that I will not allow the petty jealousy of Gifford to deprive me of an invaluable assistant This is an ulti to hiht Des,” he said, picking up a sketch ”A racehorse! I presuain,” replied the reporter, carelessly ”I won a tenner over that horse”

”Knowing the prejudices of your chief, I am surprised at you Ebenezer Brown detests racehorses”

”It runs in the blood, sir My father orse than I He would have owned this paper but for a horse and jockey The horse would have won the Melbourne Cup but that it did not fall in with the jockey's plans

The governor turned to Ebenezer Brown for assistance, and rateful to racehorses”

”And here a your battles Why don't you help amble, he will shoot you out,”

re sin, and never so much as remonstrated with him,” said Desmond

”Because your father was invaluable to him, and cheap, neither of which qualifications you possess There is another ainst you--in fact, several other matters You dabble in theatricals”

Deshed