quarter to, so that you will have plenty of time."

Dunstable went, and returned five minutes later, bearing an armful of
manuscript.

"I don't think I shall need to count them," said Mr. Appleby. "Kindly
take them in batches of ten sheets, and tear them in half, Dunstable."

"Yes, sir."

The last sheet fluttered in two sections into the surfeited
waste-paper basket.

"It's an awful waste, sir," said Dunstable regretfully.

Mr. Appleby beamed.

"We must, however," he said, "always endeavour to look on the bright
side, Dunstable. The writing of these eight hundred lines will have
given you a fine grip of the rhythm of Virgil, the splendid prose of
Victor Hugo, and the unstudied majesty of the Greek Numerals. Good-night,
Dunstable."

"Good-night, sir," said the President of the Locksley Lines Supplying
Trust, Ltd.




THE AUTOGRAPH HUNTERS