The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-10-27
ly enough that he considered the eIntervisw

| spasmodic effort, sat down again. 9TH,
| fact Is, Mr.. Meeson," she said-"the fac
is, that, thought that, perhaps, as 'Jeni
mas Vow had been such great success
you might, perhaps-in short, you nigh
be inclined to give me some small sum IL
addition to what I have received"
Mr.. Meeson looked up. His forehead
was wrinkled till the shaggy eyebrow.
nearly hid the sharp little eyes. WHAT
he said. "Whdtr'
AT this moment the door opened and 6
young gentleman came slowly in He was
o very nice-looking young man, tall and
well shaped, with fair skin and jolly
oiue eyes-in short, typical young Eng.
lishmen of the better sort, rtdte sue
twenty-four. I have said that he came
slowly in, but that scarcely conveys the
gay and dcgugc air Of independence which
pervaded this young man, and which
would certainly have struck any observer
as little short of shocking when contrasted
with the worm-like attitude of those who
crept round the feet of Meeson. This
young man had not, indeed, even taken
the trouble to remove his hat, which was
stuck upon the back of his head, his hands
were in his pockets, sacrilegious whistle
hovered on his lips, and he opened the door
OF the sanctum sanctorIm of the Meeson
establishment tcith click,
"How do, uncle'" he said to the Com
mercial Terror, who was sitting there be-
hind his formidable books, addressing him
even rs though he were an ordinary man.
"Why, what's ups"
Just then, however, he caught sight Of
the very handsome young lady who was
seated in the Office and his whole demean-
or underwent most remarkable change;
out came the hands from his pockets, off
went the hat, and, turning, he bowed,
really rather nicely, considering how i'm.
promptu the whole performance was.
What is it, Eustace?" asked Mr.. Nee
son, sharply.
"Oh, nothing, uncle; nothing-it can
bide," and, without waiting for an invita-
ton, he took chair, and sat down in such
position that he could see Miss Smither
without being seen of his uncle.
II was saying, Miss Smithers, or rather,
was going to say" went on the elder
Meeson, "that, in short, do not in the
least understand what you can mean
You viii remember that you were paid
sum OF fifty pounds for the copyright OF
Terminals Vow
u1GdL IltdNGIS.
Eustace, behind, what do!'
"At the time an alternative agreement,
Offering you seven per cent. on the pub
nshed price of the book, was submitted to
you, and, had you accepted it, you would,
doubtless, have realized larger sum-"
and Mr.. Meeson contracted his hairy eye
brows and gazed at the poor girl in n way
that was to say the least, alarming. But
Augusta, though she felt sadly inclined to
flee, still stood to her guns, for to tell the
truth, her need was very great.
Il could not afford to wait for the seven
per cent, Mr.. Meeson," she said humbly.
"Oh, ye gods! seven per cent, when he
makes about forty-ivel' murmured Eus-
tace, in the background.
Possibly, Miss Smithers possibly"
went on the great man. "You must really
forgive me If | am not acquainted with the
exact condition Of your private affairs.
am, however, aware from experience that
the money matters of most writing people
are little embarrassed"
Augusta WINGED, and Mr. Meeson, rising
heavily from his chair, went to a large
safe which stood near and extracted from
it bundle of agreements. These he
glanced at one by one till he found what
he was looking for.
Here is the agreement" he said "Let
me sees All, thought so-copyright fifty
pounds, half proceeds of rights of transla-
ton, and clause binding you to offer any
future work you may produce during the
next five years TO our house on the seven
per cent agreement, or "a sum not exceed
ing one hundred pounds for the copyright.
Now, Miss Smithers, what have you to
say! You signed this paper Of your own
free will. Il so happens that we have
made large profit on your book; indeed,
don't mind telling you that we have got
rs much as we gave you back from Amer
ca for the sale of the American rights; but
hat is no ground for your coming to ask
Tor more money than you agreed to &C
,ept. ! never heard of such thing in the
whole course Of my professional expert.
,nce; never!" and he paused, and once
more eyed her sternly.
"At any rate, there ought to be some
hing to come TO me from the rights OF
ssw in the paper that the
book was to be translated into French and
German" said Augusta, family.
"Oh! yes, no doubt-Eustace, oblige me
oy touching the bell"
The young gentleman did so, and tall
looking clerk appeared.
"No. 49," snarled Mr.. Neeson, in the
.one OF peculiar amiability that he re-
served for his employees, make out the
translation account of 'Jemimas Vow,'
and fill up check Of balance due to the
author"
No. IS vanished like a thin, unhappy
ghost, and Mr.. Meeson once more adj
dressed the girl before him. ''If you want
money, Miss Smithers," (" he said, ''you had
better write us another book. / am not
going to deny that your work is good work
"A little too deep and not quite orthodox
enough, perhaps; but still good. l tested
It myself when 1t came to hand-which is
4 thing don't often do-and saw it was
good selling quality, and you see / didn't
make a mistake ] believe Terminals Vow
will sell twenty thousand without stop
the account"
AS he spoke, the spectre-hke clerk put
down a neatly-ruled bit of paper and an
unsigned check on the desk before his en-
ployer and then smiled a shadow smile
and vanished.
Mr.. Meeson glanced through the account
signed the check, and handed it, together