Episode 4

March and the children,but I felt at home with you--thoroughly domesticated--before I passed a word with you;and when you spoke first,and opened up with a joke over that fellow's tableful of light literature and Indian moccasins and birch-bark toy canoes and stereoscopic views,I knew that we were brothers-spiritual twins.I recognized the Western style of fun,and I thought,when you said you were from Boston,that it was some of the same.But I see now that its being a cold fact,as far as the last fifteen or twenty years count,is just so much gain.You know both sections,and you can make this thing go,from ocean to ocean.""We might ring that into the prospectus,too,"March suggested,with a smile."You might call the thing 'From Sea to Sea.'By-the-way,what are you going to call it?""I haven't decided yet;that's one of the things I wanted to talk with you about.I had thought of 'The Syndicate';but it sounds kind of dry,and doesn't seem to cover the ground exactly.I should like something that would express the co-operative character of the thing,but I don't know as I can get it.""Might call it 'The Mutual'."

"They'd think it was an insurance paper.No,that won't do.But Mutual comes pretty near the idea.If we could get something like that,it would pique curiosity;and then if we could get paragraphs afloat explaining that the contributors were to be paid according to the sales,it would be a first-rate ad."He bent a wide,anxious,inquiring smile upon March,who suggested,lazily:"You might call it 'The Round-Robin'.That would express the central idea of irresponsibility.As I understand,everybody is to share the profits and be exempt from the losses.Or,if I'm wrong,and the reverse is true,you might call it 'The Army of Martyrs'.Come,that sounds attractive,Fulkerson!Or what do you think of 'The Fifth Wheel'?

That would forestall the criticism that there are too many literary periodicals already.Or,if you want to put forward the idea of complete independence,you could call it 'The Free Lance';or--""Or 'The Hog on Ice'--either stand up or fall down,you know,"Fulkerson broke in coarsely."But we'll leave the name of the magazine till we get the editor.I see the poison's beginning to work in you,March;and if Ihad time I'd leave the result to time.But I haven't.I've got to know inside of the next week.To come down to business with you,March,Isha'n't start this thing unless I can get you to take hold of it."He seemed to expect some acknowledgment,and March said,"Well,that's very nice of you,Fulkerson.""No,sir;no,sir!I've always liked you and wanted you ever since we met that first night.I had this thing inchoately in my mind then,when Iwas telling you about the newspaper syndicate business--beautiful vision of a lot of literary fellows breaking loose from the bondage of publishers and playing it alone--""You might call it 'The Lone Hand';that would be attractive,"March interrupted."The whole West would know what you meant."Fulkerson was talking seriously,and March was listening seriously;but they both broke off and laughed.Fulkerson got down off the table and made some turns about the room.It was growing late;the October sun had left the top of the tall windows;it was still clear day,but it would soon be twilight;they had been talking a long time.Fulkerson came and stood with his little feet wide apart,and bent his little lean,square face on March."See here!How much do you get out of this thing here,anyway?""The insurance business?"March hesitated a moment and then said,with a certain effort of reserve,"At present about three thousand."He looked up at Fulkerson with a glance,as if he had a mind to enlarge upon the fact,and then dropped his eyes without saying more.

Whether Fulkerson had not thought it so much or not,he said:"Well,I'll give you thirty-five hundred.Come!And your chances in the success.""We won't count the chances in the success.And I don't believe thirty-five hundred would go any further in New York than three thousand in Boston.""But you don't live on three thousand here?""No;my wife has a little property."

"Well,she won't lose the income if you go to New York.I suppose you pay ten or twelve hundred a year for your house here.You can get plenty of flats in New York for the same money;and I understand you can get all sorts of provisions for less than you pay now--three or four cents on the pound.Come!"This was by no means the first talk they had had about the matter;every three or four months during the past two years the syndicate man had dropped in upon March to air the scheme and to get his impressions of it.

This had happened so often that it had come to be a sort of joke between them.But now Fulkerson clearly meant business,and March had a struggle to maintain himself in a firm poise of refusal.

"I dare say it wouldn't--or it needn't-cost so very much more,but Idon't want to go to New York;or my wife doesn't.It's the same thing.""A good deal samer,"Fulkerson admitted.

March did not quite like his candor,and he went on with dignity.

"It's very natural she shouldn't.She has always lived in Boston;she's attached to the place.Now,if you were going to start 'The Fifth Wheel'

in Boston--"

Fulkerson slowly and sadly shook his head,but decidedly."Wouldn't do.

You might as well say St.Louis or Cincinnati.There's only one city that belongs to the whole country,and that's New York.""Yes,I know,"sighed March;"and Boston belongs to the Bostonians,but they like you to make yourself at home while you're visiting.""If you'll agree to make phrases like that,right along,and get them into 'The Round-Robin'somehow,I'll say four thousand,"said Fulkerson.