Part 9 (1/2)
”She did,” replied Desmond, ”and of your adventures Could you favour me with a brief recital of your career?”
”For copy? No,that for my own paper Any chance for another paper here?” he asked, casually
”You had better not ask me I am still an employe of The Observer'”
”Still? Do you anticipate ahalf over the counter
”I do I haveup, eh? Well, I was a holy terror at your age I made the old dad's life a torrey hairs in the mother's head Is the boss in?”
”Cairns? Yes, I think so”
”Approachable?” asked Quirk
”Sometimes,” replied Desmond
”What sort of forecast to-day--stormy?”
”Knock at his door, and let hio out”
He went to the editor's door, and knocked violently There was no response, and he knocked again--more violently Then the door opened suddenly, and Cairns confronted him in a white fury
”Nohat the dickens, sir,” cried the editor, ”brings your big battering ram of a fist in contact with my door? Nature provides earthquakes in these parts without your assistance, you noisy devil!”
”Who are you shouting at?” answered Quirk, in an equal fury ”Can't a ently! What sort of a disturbance happens when you knock loudly?
What do you ithnow I carizzly bear Can't a man who has come from the other side of creation call on a local celebrity but he must have his nose snapped off? Good-day to you, sir!”
Cairns' sense of the hu quickly frohter This, for the nation
”Are you laughing atat ise to you; but you came at a moment when I was hopelessly busy,” replied Cairns
Quirk's face relaxed into a griarded the thin, humorous face of the editor attentively Satisfied with his survey, he said:
”Well, I won't bother you just now I knohat it is to be in a tearing hurry I ran a newspaper myself in the States; you have to be here, there, and everywhere to do that Can't trust to anyone but yourself, can you?”
”Not a living soul But I will give you five minutes if you slip inside”
Quirk entered the editor's office, and the door closed In half an hour's tiether