The evolution of this particular dinosaur

Newspapers are dinosaurs, who are on their last legs. When another half-generation is gone, there won't be enough people left who can read to make them worth doing. However, the news-gathering systems of newspapers are hugely valuable entities, and they are going to have to figure out how to translate that value into something that is profitable.

Poor Mr. H.

     "Let me tell you you're mistaken if you think you can get rid of me so easily."
     "Lottie," said Bill, please!"
     "Lottie, please! said Lord Tidmouth.
     "Lottie, please! Lottie, please! Lottie, please!" cried the injured woman in the tones which had intimidated a hundred theatrical dressing-rooms and which when heard during the course of their brief married life by the late Mr. Higginbotham had always been enough to send that pusillanimous cotton magnate shooting off to his club for refuge.

(from Doctor Sally, by Sir Pelham Wodehouse)

Just the way it is

The brutal, brutal fact of the matter is that grandparents are older than grandchildren. That is not quite so much of a factor when the grandparents are 45, but when they are in their sixties and the children are two-year-olds it can be exhausting.

Eloquent applause

     "Well, well, well, well, well, WELL!" said Lord Tidmouth.
     Lottie moved to the mirror and scrutinized herself in it. She was pleased that her very considerable beauty had won this striking tribute.

(from Doctor Sally, by Sir Pelham Wodehouse)

Taking in and taking out

It was a cattle-trail town and ran long to saloons and gambling houses. The folks who lived in the country around were mostly raising cattle. The rest of them were stealing cattle. Both industries were in what you might call a flourishing condition when we came into town.
/
(from Lando, by Louis L'Amour)

Cosmo Lengro

In the novel Lando, we learn that this is the real name of the Tinker, that mysterious character that appears in several of the Sackett stories. He is described as being a gypsy, which is a name for the Romani people, who originated in northwestern India about 1500 years ago. Accordingly, they tend to have a swarthy coloration with dark eyes and a generally exotic and mysterious look. All of that fits in with the character of the Tinker.

Beware of those accountants

"Mr. Sackett, face a man with a gun or a sword, but beware of bookkeepers. They will destroy you, Sackett. They will destroy you."

(from Lando, by Louis L'Amour)

Frittering

"Waiting for tomorrow waste of today."

(Charlie Chan in Egypt)

Integrity under trial

Caffrey had a reputation for honesty, but many a man with such a reputation simply has not been found our or tested, and for Will Caffrey the test of those bas of gold was too much for his principles to bear.

(from Lando, by Louis L'Amour)

Isolated for too long

     There was a yearning in me to be off the mountain, for I'd lived too long in the high-up hills, knowing every twisty creek to its farthest reaches, and every lightning-struck tree for miles. Other than my cabin the only places I knew were the meetinghouse down at the Crossing where folks went of a Sunday, and the schoolhouse at Clinch's Creek where we went of a Saturday for the dancing and the fighting.

(from Lando, by Louis L'Amour)

REALLY dark

The darkness of the place was dreadful. In every direction there was a gloom so dense that it seemed to forbid movement and breath as well as sight.

(from Grey Mask, by Patricia Wentworth)

Egbert is not a catch

     "Well, she's Margot Standing, isn't she?"
     "You guessed when she said 'Egbert'?"
     "I guessed the second time I saw her," said Archie. "She wants a whole heap of practice before she can conceal anythin'. Does Freddy know?"
     "I expect he does by now. Egbert isn't the sort of name most fellows would be seen dead in a ditch with."

(from Grey Mask, by Patricia Wentworth)

Just get them worried

"I have always found worried people very willing to talk. The more worried they are, the more they will tell you."

(from Grey Mask, by Patricia Wentworth)

Fifi Tremaine

Miss Tremaine was a character in the Fibber McGee and Molly radio show who remained almost entirely off-stage. She was the object of a spirited romantic competition between Mayor LaTrivia and Doc Gamble. The visual picture of those two over-aged Romeos panting after the glamorous Fifi provided a great gag line for several episodes. It was helped on, of course, by Fibber's constant razzing of the two suitors. But what a great name for a glamor-girl character!

Feminine vanity

"Women are all vain," said Archie. "I only once met one that wasn't, and I give you my word she was a grim proposition."

(from Grey Mask, by Patricia Wentworth)

Just keep your mouth shut and disappear

He was always around, and a man who is always around and taken for granted by everyone hears a great deal. If he is a man of intelligence, he learns much more than people give him credit for.

(from "Rustler Roundup," by Louis L'Amour)

One tough job

To be a Deputy U. S. Marshal in India Territory was like standing yourself up in the business end of a shooting gallery.

(from "Caprock Rancher," by Louis L'Amour)

Good advice for life

The words of Olaki, his Japanese instructor, were ringing through his brain: "Distract his attention if you can; but, as you value your life, don't let him distract yours."

(from Bulldog Drummond, by H. D. McNeile)

Algy Longworth

He had told [Algy] Longworth more or less on the spur of the moment, knowing that gentleman's capabilities to  nicety. Under a cloak of assumed flippancy he concealed an iron nerve which had never ye failed him; and, in spite of the fact that he wore and entirely unnecessary eyeglass, he could see farther into a brick wall than mot of the people who called him a fool.

(from Bulldog Drummond, by H. C. McNeile)

In most of the Bulldog Drummond, Longworth is portrayed as a virtually useless fop, utterly without common sense or even very much intelligence.

"Caution" is not his watchword

"A fly in the gear-box of a motor-car would be a sounder proposition for a lite insurance than you will be - if you continue on your present course."

(from Bulldog Drummond, by H. C. McNeile