Your short story, “The Badge of Policeman O’Roon,” is herewith
   returned.

   We are sorry that it has been unfavorably passed upon; but it
   seems to lack in some of the essential requirements of our
   publication.

The story is splendidly constructed; its style is strong and inimitable, and its action and character-drawing deserve the highest praise.  As a story per se it has merit beyond anything that we have read for some time.  But, as we have said, it fails to come up to some of the standards we have set.

Could you not re-write the story, and inject into it the social atmosphere, and return it to us for further consideration?  It is suggested to you that you have the hero, Van Sweller, drop in for luncheon or dinner once or twice at ——­ [10] or at the ——­ [11] which will be in line with the changes desired.

   Very truly yours
   THE EDITORS.

   [Footnote 10:  See advertising column, “Where to Dine Well,”
   in the daily newspapers.]

   [Footnote 11:  See advertising column, “Where to Dine Well,”
   in the daily newspapers.]

[Illustration:  “See him do it.” (cartoon from The Rolling Stone)]

SOUND AND FURY

      [O.  Henry wrote this for Ainslee’s Magazine, where it
      appeared in March, 1903.]

PERSONS OF THE DRAMA

Mr. PENNE . . . . . .   An Author
Miss LORE . . . . . .   An Amanuensis

SCENE—­Workroom of Mr. Penne’s popular novel factory.

MR. PENNE—­Good morning, Miss Lore.  Glad to see you so prompt.  We should finish that June installment for the Epoch to-day.  Leverett is crowding me for it.  Are you quite ready?  We will resume where we left off yesterday. (Dictates.) “Kate, with a sigh, rose from his knees, and—­”

MISS LORE—­Excuse me; you mean “rose from her knees,” instead of “his,” don’t you?

MR. PENNE—­Er—­no—­“his,” if you please.  It is the love scene in the garden. (Dictates.) “Rose from his knees where, blushing with youth’s bewitching coyness, she had rested for a moment after Cortland had declared his love.  The hour was one of supreme and tender joy.  When Kate—­scene that Cortland never—­”

MISS LORE—­Excuse me; but wouldn’t it be more grammatical to say “when Kate SAW,” instead of “seen”?

MR. PENNE—­The context will explain. (Dictates.) “When Kate—­scene that Cortland never forgot—­came tripping across the lawn it seemed to him the fairest sight that earth had ever offered to his gaze.”

Miss LORE—­Oh!

MR. PENNE (dictates)—­“Kate had abandoned herself to the joy of her new-found love so completely, that no shadow of her former grief was cast upon it.  Cortland, with his arm firmly entwined about her waist, knew nothing of her sighs—­”

MISS LORE—­Goodness!  If he couldn’t tell her size with his arm around—­