This etext was transcribed by Les Bowler

The Bellman
Book of Fiction

1906–1919

Chosen and Edited by
WILLIAM C. EDGAR
late Editor of The Bellman

Minneapolis, Minn., U.S.A.
The Bellman Company
1921

p. ivCopyright 1921
by
The Bellman Company

p. vTO
FORMER READERS OF
The Bellman
WHOSE GENEROUS GOOD WILL
AND LOYAL SUPPORT MADE
ITS SUCCESS POSSIBLE

p.viiPREFACE

The kindly reception given to TheBellman Book of Verse is mainly responsible for the publicationof this collection of short stories, originally printed in TheBellman, and should it find favor equal to that of itspredecessor, it is probable that other volumes of like charactermay follow this.

Indeed, the former editor of The Bellman has in mind thepublication of a series of books, uniform in size and appearancewith this, including a second and perhaps a third volume offiction and, finally, The Bellman’s Book of Essays, tocontain some of the essays and editorials of that periodicalwhich are esteemed of more than transient value; in all, perhapshalf a dozen small volumes.

Whether this congenial undertaking shall be carried out orabandoned depends very largely upon the welcome given this, thesecond book of the contemplated series.  There is no desireto exploit the files of The Bellman for commercial purposes, butshould it appear that there exists a sincere demand for suchliterature it will be the writer’s pleasure to supplyit.

More than two years have passed since The Bellman wasdiscontinued, and it is most gratifying to its founder, as wellas to all those who were concerned in its publication, to notemany continuing evidences of the regard and appreciation p. viiiin whichit was held by its former readers and to receive repeatedexpressions of regret that it has ceased to exist.

The Bellman is no more, but his memory still endures, andevidently a large number of his loyal old friends continuefaithfully to cherish it.

For them, more especially, is this collection published. The selection has been made almost at random and does not pretendto be a choice of the best stories that were printed in TheBellman, but merely a few of those among the many which appearedunder the familiar heading, “The Bellman’sTale,” and which the editor considers meritorious andworthy of perpetuation in book form.

November, 1921.

—W. C. E.

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