The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-09-18


novels. and | had plenty of work on
hand and no difficulty in placing it.
Nv publishers wanted TO see me.
was delighted; they had probably some
thing to propose; l saw visions of a
new agreement and acheck in advance
on account, or at least three-months'
bill Zone can discount a bill.)
/ put on my hree-thousand-p -pound-a-
year suit O always put on my three
thousand-pound-a-year suit when | call
on publisher-it awes 'em); and
was shown into the sanctum. Old Mr.
Scorcher, the head of the firm, re-
ceived me. | generally see Wagge.
Wagge is the junior partner-Wagge
and | are rather thick.
Old Mr.. Scorcher had face I, yard
long.
''Will you kindly look at that, Mr..
Nibbs?" he said in awful tones. He
put little book into my hands-a very
nice little book-Japanese paper. mar
gins, special type, delightful etchings
in fact, the whole bag of tricks.
| began to turn over the leaves, and
then | nearly jumped out of my skin.
1t was my novel my successful novel
-..Lindas Lovers" Its wicked
American piracy!n I cried; land they'd
have the impertinence to alter the title
and the names" ''Rachel'S Romance"
indeed. by Jove, they've just simply
turred Linda into Rachel, aud-and-
and ="
1T was published four years ago. ;"
said old Mr.. Scorcher, simply. Y 90
sold it to us as an original novel"
Its piracy" cried ''an internal
piracyw
Il don't doubt you, Mr.. Nibbs.
quite believe what you say-but-"
Then we talked for long time.
told him that no human eye but p. J..
had ever seen the manuscript till his
firm had purchased it.
You'll have to 90 to New York;
you'll have to unearth the pirate; you'll
have to prove the whole thing.
lit very serious thing for us-a much
more serious thing for you," said old
Mr.. Scorcher.
OF course he was right.
| went to New York at once.
| called on Barrabas & Co.. the pub.
fishers of 'Rachers Romance" They
were very nice people. particularly nice
people. They would give an intro.
duction to Mr.. Paul Jones the author,
at once. He was a rising man. Might
they give me volume of his short
stories? | thanked them. A glance
was enough-they were my short
stories. Paul Jones was miserable
pirate, a wretched jackdaw in peacock's s
plumes! | would make it very hot,
indeed, for Paul Jones. l took the
letter of introduction, | went straight
to Boston, where Mr.. Jones the talent.
ed author lived.
widow. / found his marble tomb,
with catalogue of his virtues; he had
only been dead month.
Then, gradually but slowly. ]
learned the truth. Mr. Paul Jones was
an ingenious man. He had photo.
graphed my manuscripts; each sheet OF
foolscap. when photographed, was the
size of an ordinary carte de Uisite. Then
by the aid of a magnifying glass he re-
copied my manuscript; and he attained
in this way name and fame and
dollars.
Everybody in Boston thoroughly be-
lieved in Paul Jones. His widow. q
gentle little woman with tender eyes,
sold me many sheets of his original
compositions (photos of my MSS.).
Paul" Mrs. Jones remarked, was
very ingenious man. He was afraid
his work might get lost; it did get lost.
But we had the photos. and with the
help of a magnifying glass l recopied
all my husbands work. All, what a
clever fellow he was. stranger; his
name will remain written in letters of
brass on the heart of all American
readers as the author of this charming
work." aud then she handed me a copy
of "Rachel's Romance"
| hadn't the heart to underceive the
poor little woman who believed in her
pirate.
l returned to England sadder and
wiser man. Scorcher is perfectly
satisfied-he is indeed. They
Scoreher. Wagge & Co. are bringing
out my new book.
Is there moral? Yes. there is a
moral. 1t is as well for an English
author, in submitting. his work to a
possible buyer to know something of
the person he is dealing with; for Mr..
Paul Jones (P. j is not the only Rich
mond in the tield.-St. James Gazette.