THE TOWN THAT LOST ITSELF
embalmed history. Billy, see if we have another can of those preserved cavalry charges in the pantry. I guess we'd better feed 'em a little hoof-work next.'
"Say, after working under that man you'd never want to return to humdrum again. Why, I got so I was afraid some one would spring my fairy news items ahead of me, and the joy of knowing I was first in the lane with an extra was never surpassed in Park Row. We became so keen in the game that on several occasions we got out night extras. Yes, sir, we aroused those poor oblivious bipeds at three o'clock in the morning, and they got up and read the latest intelligence by candle-light. Of course, the night extras were only when the news was terrific and wouldn't keep until morning.
"Only once did Deacon Durgin interfere with our policy. That was when Tib wrote an editorial knocking free silver and declaring for a gold standard. The Deacon insisted that when it came to the currency question. Home Hollow wanted only a bean basis. He had no use for money, but a government established on beans would outlast the very hills, he said. We made that the issue of the Presidential campaign, and it hit 'em keenly, sir. An unlimited currency of beans was their slogan, and we supplied statistics to prove it was the only possible solution of the monetary problem.
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