Part 52 (1/2)
”They would be excellent if I had a little more capital.”
”I don't see how you need capital, as a journeyman printer.”
”I have a chance to buy out the paper.”
”But who would edit it?”
”I would.”
”You!” said the magician, rather incredulously.
”I have been the editor for the last two months.”
”You--a boy!”
”I am nineteen, professor.”
”I shouldn't have dreamed of editing a paper at nineteen; or, indeed, as old as I am now.”
Harry laughed.
”You are too modest, professor. Let me show you our last two issues.”
The professor took out his gla.s.ses, and sat down, not without considerable curiosity, to read a paper edited by one who only three years before had been his a.s.sistant.
”Did you write this article?” he asked, after a pause, pointing to the leader in the last issue of the ”Gazette.”
”Yes, sir.”
”Then, by Jove, you can write. Why, it's worthy of a man of twice your age!”
”Thank you, professor,” said Harry, gratified.
”Where did you learn to write?”
Harry gave his old employer some account of his literary experiences, mentioning his connection with the two Boston weekly papers.
”You ought to be an editor,” said the professor. ”If you can do as much at nineteen, you have a bright future before you.”
”That depends a little on circ.u.mstances. If I only could buy this paper, I would try to win reputation as well as money.”
”What is your difficulty?”
”The want of money.”
”How much do you need?”
”Eight hundred dollars.”
”Is that all the price such a paper commands?”
”No. The price is two thousand dollars; but Ferguson and I can raise twelve hundred between us.”