<i>The Short Story of Harry Peyton Steger</i>: chapter 46

Never had Harry been busier. With his wife, Dorothy, enjoying a little rest and relaxation in France while she recuperated from recent surgeries, Steger criss-crossed the country tackling projects.

"Dear Tark," Steger writes to Booth Tarkington in late October on 1912, "here is our check for $5,000. You can have the balance in the course of a week. I'm going down to Atlanta at the end of this week or the first of next, and I will drop off for an hour or two on my way back. Dorothy and Margaret Porter are on their way back to Paris for two or three months, and I am taking advantage of their absence to do a lot of running at nobody's inconvenience but my own. I want to stay over here until Sunday to see a performance of an O. Henry sketch at the Lamb's Club, so it may be well toward the end of next week before I drop in to say hello. If I miss you, I shall be sorry; but I shan't mind breaking the trip for four or five hours anyhow."

A letter written about the same time to Corra Harris explained why Harry wanted to make a trip to Atlanta.

"I despair of making you understand why I waited nearly ten days before having the five thousand dollars sent to you," Steger had hurriedly forwarded to Mrs. Harris in Pine Log, Georgia, "but you are so wrong in your explanation to yourself that I should like, out of justice to our friendship, to come and talk it over with you, and I want to bring the check with me. I think a more definite understanding and meeting of our minds than at present exists is pretty essential to our relations in the future, and I don't believe I shall soon forget this terrible letter of yours until I have talked it out with you 'face to face.' I can come to Atlanta or anywhere else on receipt of this letter, if you will wire me, and bring the check with me."

An old friend helped alleviate some of the tension, however. Joe B. Hatchitt wrote from Lockhart, Texas to remind Harry, now that Steger has ascended up the East Coast publishing ladder, not to forget who had nudged him into this line of work in the first place back when Harry was a young pup working on the University of Texas yearbook staff.

"So you are to blame for all the trouble I have been in these many years," Steger replied, tongue-in-cheek. "I had forgotten until your letter came that you and your henchmen were responsible for my editorial job. From the tone of your letter I gather you expect gratitude."

Meanwhile, Steger and John Lomax are still deciding which one of them should write a lengthy article detailing the civic work and philanthropy of Will Hogg.

"If you decide to write it yourself, don't expurgate Will," Steger warns. "Put him all in ---profanity, tobacco juice and all. I can do the editing at this end."

Another letter to Grace McGowan Cooke shows the compromising skills of a literary agent deftly dancing between the demands of a superior and the creative input of a valued writer.

Dear Mrs. Cooke:

Lately Wilson gave me, or rather all publishers through me, an epistolary drubbing for questioning the wisdom of titles. Personally "The Joy Bringer" suits me all right, but it is rather remarkable how nearly everyone else objects to it. I put the decision up to you for your decision.

Very sincerely yours,

Harry Peyton Steger

Mrs. Cooke must have sent a missive that left no doubt other publishing entities were beating a path to her door.

"Of course it interests us very much to know that you have been approached by Small, Maynard & Co., and by other publishers as well," Harry replied. "It only confirms our judgment that you are all right, and I hope the flirtatious creatures will be kept off for a time through my early receipt of the contract I sent you the other day. You must surely have it in your hands by now."

Harry was also negotiating on behalf of Mrs. Harris.

"If Reynolds makes any fruitful suggestions to me, I shall be glad to act in cooperation with him," Harry tells Mrs. Harris. "I am hoping, however, that Cosmopolitan will see the folly of letting such a good thing go by, and will come across celestially."

On December 23, 1912, Harry sent his father, Thomas P. Steger, the 12th volume of O. Henry and wrote on the flyleaf, "Here it is at last, Dad. See what you think of it."

Thomas Steger received this telegram from Harry on December 24.

Thos. P. Steger,

Bonham, Texas

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to home folks; am sending sets of O. Henry in leather and things all delayed. Dorothy not well in Paris but better now. Long letter soon; summer visit assured. Love from Uncle Harry to Su, Alice, Elizabeth Roberts.

The Steger family found this letter in the mail December 30, 1912.

Dear Dad,

I've ordered some mighty good cigars sent to you. They should have reached you before you get this letter, but, of course, things move very slowly this time of year.

Your letter about the gigantic box electrifies me. I shall be very popular for a period. Dorothy will insist that a part of it be saved against her return when she hears of it...poor girl! She hasn't been very cheerful because her side won't let up....bless your hearts, all of you, for keeping up the good old box habit. It began way back in freshman days, didn't it? You can't stop now!

Now here is my real Christmas present. When I get through with Austin in June, you and Mither are to come back with me and we're to have a visit. The railroad tickets both ways will be in my inside coat pocket and you must begin now to arrange court dockets, etc., to get away around June 15 or July 1 at the latest. This is definite. Dorothy will be home and strong again, I shall not be as busy as I was and the Glasses will be here. I'm planning this seriously, so don't disappoint me.

Affectionately yours,

Harry Peyton Steger