Indeed, she was a little embarrassed how to handle so delicate a situation.
"I'm afraid we cannot use your story, Mr.Clark," she said gently, and remembering the formula that usually accompanied her own rejected manuscripts she added: "This does not necessarily imply a lack of merit in your contribution, but is due to the fact that it is at present unavailable for our use." Skim stared at her in utter dismay.
"Ye mean ye won't take it ?" he asked with trembling lips.
"We have so much material on hand, just now, that we cannot possibly purchase more," she said firmly, but feeling intensely sorry for the boy.

"It may be a good story--" "It's the bes' story I ever heard of!" declared Skim.
"But we have no place for it in the _Millville Tribune,_" she added, handing him back the roll.
Skim was terribly disappointed.

Never, for a single moment, had he expected "sech a throwdown as this." "Seems to me like a bunco game," he muttered savagely.

"First ye say in yer blamed ol' paper a story's wuth thirty to fifty dollars, an' then when I bring ye a story ye won't pay a red cent fer it!" "Stories," suggested Louise, "are of various qualities, depending on the experience and talent of the author.

An excellent story is often refused because the periodical to which it is offered is overstocked with similar material.