The Portland daily press., 1889-11-09
ArlLT Between NoVeIIsTs.
How Nal. Calhoun Finished a Story
which "Ned BuntiIne" sad Begun.

Mai. Calhoun. one of the most prolific Of
modern blood-and thunder story writers. and
Louis Neumann, who is the author Of three
composite novels, adapted from the German,
Spanish and Italian, and averaging 100000
words apiece, were comparing experiences a
few days ago.
II once had a rather exciting passage with
the late Ned Buntline," said the major. "He
was writing story for weekly paper on
which we were both frequently engaged,
when he took sudden vacation. 1t was a
way he had and nobody thought anything
about it !; but in this case the publishers we're
in dilemma, as they had but a single in
stallment ahead. was sent for and told to
read the chapters already printed. and then
to set to work and finish up the story in one
or two installments.
"Well, read the part that had appeared,
| and it was job. l soon discovered that
| there we're an enormous number of charac-
| tiers in the story more than / could very
| well handle; for Judson was a man who
| could keep track Of a large number Of per-
| sons all at once. This multiplicity of char
| acters puzzled me. Finally resolved to get
/ rid of some Of them, and adopted a very
| original method. | put number OF them on
board an excursion steamer and then explod
| ed her boilers, sending them to kingdom
come. With the rest worked out plot to
a climax and wound up tie story In fairly
| good manner.
"You may imagine Judson's wrath when,
on returning to the Office two weeks later he
| had learned what had been done. explain
ed that had acted under orders, of course
but he couldn't be pasiied, and was very
mad man, indeed. lie cared nothing, he
said, about the finishing Of the story; It was
the brutal way of killing of his characters
that he objected to-the wholesale annihila-
ton, which he declared to be lnartistic. By
and-by he saw the thing in its proper light
and we had many joke over 1t.
"That reminds me-" said Neumann, ''of Q
somewhat similar incident that occurred In
Paris. A highly sensational story was run
ming in one Of the daily papers, and the chic
had few installments on hand when tbs
| brilliant young author took u into his head
to go of and get married Then he set out
on a wedding tour, which was to last week
The instalments were soon used up, and an
other member of the staff was directed tc
| wind up the story, He sent the heroine TO
| watery grave in the river Seine; he poisoned
the hero, slew the able VINO was t . s SOC
| in a most tragic and narrowing manner. IL
was 4 dark and weird success you may be-
liays' AZ the end of the week the author
showed up hs h Ss rendered to his chie
Your story is finished. nj. - said the
editor. .a a.
Novelist. iii Is not finished. have here the
Continuation, and there Is more to come, in
deed the best part of IL Is here
"'Tchut,' exclaimed the chief; why In
sist? say 1t Is finished M. - had Il
do it in your absence
"'I am aware that he wrote several chap
ters,' said the unblushing romancer; but i
you will kindly read this manuscript, an
sure that you win agree with me that an
right"
"The manuscript was passed over, and 4
the chiefs surprise ii was a remarkabl.
dramatic sequel to the story. The heroine
instead Of being drowned, was rescued b,
some fishermen on the river below Paris; tn
hero was saved by medical friend, who az
piled the stomach pump In time, and tn
able recovered from his wounds and was OF
hand to bless the nuptials of the happy pais