The doctor compared the verses in both and found them to be identical,
saying with a puzzled look:
"The one in the News is the same as this other, but it is not signed.
The other is signed Sadie May. Do you use that as a nom de plume,
Sheldon?"
"No, sir, I do not," said Jack with a smile.
"Then it strikes me that this other paper has been taking liberties
with the News, not only taking things 'written especially for the
News,' as printed over the poem, but declining to give any credit
to the paper, and putting on the name of another besides the writer.
Reputable newspapers are not supposed to do this."
Many of the boys smiled, and the doctor continued:
"Didn't you recognize this poem when you read it in the out-of-town
paper, Herring?"
"I had never seen it before," Herring answered, and it was noticed
by some of the boys that he seemed a bit restless.
"Then you do not read the Riverton paper?"
"No, sir, I do not."
"I seldom read it myself," the doctor remarked, "or I would have
remembered these verses. They are very clever and breathe the true
spirit of patriotism. They really fit admirably into the rest of
the poem, which I will read. Will you get your copy of the verses,
Sheldon, and let some one compare them?"
"Certainly, sir," and Jack arose and left the place, returning
shortly and handing a copy of his poem to Percival.
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