Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-02-14

hlnd his formidable books a6dr5os mere De
9 e.,T4i as though he were an ordinary mon
Why, what's up?" 49, " -'ti'1iy Ilaii'
JUST then, however. he caurbt sio,b+ of
ene very handsome young lady who wea
1891 III the office, and his whole de-
-teoiioI underwent a most remarkable
,,a ao' out came the hands from his
Pb r. rs on Went the hat, and. turning
-o lowed really rather nicely. consider,
was AAoio performance
W hat is it, Eustace?' asked Mr.
Meeson, sharply '-0 NJ
hiaa IN nothing, uncle; nothing-it can
que and, without waiting for an invita-
oioh' ne took chair and sat down in sucb
q position that he could see MIS-
"Hllfhers without being seen of his uncle
was saying, Miss Smithers, or rather
l was gong to say" went on the elder
HieeSon that, in short. | do not in the
least understand what You can mean
lou VIII remember that you were paid a
sum 81 OF o. 200 for the copyrig ht of 'Jenina's
= ufeat heavensI' murmured Master
hustace, behind; what dor
AT the time an alternative agreement
onerlng you per cent on the published
price OF the book. was submitted to Won
ana had you accepted it you would. doubt.
less have realized larger sum. and Mr
Meeson contracted his hairy eyebrows and
gazed at the poor girl in a way that was.
10 say the least, alarming But Augusta,
though she felt sadly inclined to fee. still
stood to her guns, for, to tell the truth,
her need was very great
could not afford to wait for the 7 per
cent, Mr.. Meeson, she said humbly.
On, ye gods! Seven per cent, when he
makes about 45r' murmured Eustace, 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
II bundle of agreements These be
glanced at one by one till he found what
| he was looking for
Here is the agreement" he said. Let
me seer All, thought so-copyright $50,
half proceeds Of rights Of translation, and
( N-NNN''S
work yon may produce during the next
five years to our house on the Z per cent.
agreement, or a sum not exceeding G100
for the copyright. Now, Miss Smithers,
what have you to sayI You signed this
paper Of your own free will It so hap
pens that we have made large profit
on your book; indeed don't mind
telling you that we have got as much as
we gave you back from America for the
sale of the american rights, but that is
no ground for your coming to ask for more
money than you agreed to accept
never heard OF such a thing III the whole
course of my professional experience;
nevcri" and lie paused and once more eyed
her sternly
AT any rate, there ought to be some
thing to come to me from the rights of
translation-I saw i'll the paper that the
/ book was to be translated into French and
German, said Augusta, family,
"Ohl yes, no doubt-Eustace, oblige NE
by touching the bell.
The young gentleman did SO, and tall,
melancholy looking clerk appeared
No. Is, snarled MIR Meeson, in the
tone of peculiar amiability that he re-
Served for his employees, make out the
translation account Of 'Jemima's Vow
and I'll up check of balance due to the
author.
No li8 vanished like thin, unhappy
ghost, and Mr. Meeson once more adj
dressed the girl before him. If you want
money, Miss SmItbers, 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 or
thOdOX enough, perhaps, but still good
! =! : ~ -
which is thing don't often dO-and saw
it was good selling quality, and you see l
didn't make mistake | believe 'Jemi-
mas Vow will sell 10000 without stop
ping-here's the account
As he spoke, the specter like clerk put
down d neatly ruled bit of paper and an
unsigned check on the desk before his en-
ployer. and then smiled & shadowy smile
and vanished.
Mr.. Meeson glanced through the ac-
count, signed the check and handed it, to-
gether with the account, to Augusta, who
proceeded to read it. 1t ran thus:
/ AUGUSTA sa1ruERs IN ACCOUNT WITH NELSON s co.
t. S. d.
/ To sale Of right of translation Of "Jemi-
mas Vow into French. .............. 0
! To sale of right of translation Of "Jemi-
mas Vow" into German. .............. 0 0
Total ga 0 o
Less amount due to 9Iessrs Meeson, be-
ing one half Of Let proceeds. 0
Less commission, etc.-...-.-............ 10 0
Total. ...........-.--..-........-. ,91O 10 0
Balance due to author, as per check
/ herewith .- ..... ...-.....-..G So c
Augusta looked, and then slowly crumpled
up the check in her hand.
| IF | understand. Mr.. Meeson," she
| said, you have sold the two rights of
/ translation of my book, which you per-
| suaded me to leave in your hands, for
! 9l4; out of which / am to receive G3 r.
Yes, Miss SnitAers. VIII you be so
kind as to sign the receipt; the fact is
/ that have q good deal of business to at
! tend to.
mo. Mr.. Meeson, suddenly said Au-
gusta. rising to her feet and looking ex-
| ceedingly handsome and imposing in her
anger. No: / viii MT sign the receipt,
and | viii not take this check. And what
is more, viii not write you any more
books, You have entrapped me. You
/ have taken advantage Of my ignorance
! and inexpcIielcc. and eItrapped me SO
/ that for five wears / shall be nothing but
o slave to you, ana, although l &ni now
one Of the most popular writers in the
country. shall be obliged to accept a sum
for nv books upon which | cannot live.
/ Do YOU know that yesterday was offered
/ 81 900 for the copyright Of book like
'Jemim2 NOWE'-its Il largo sum, but /
have the letter es, and have the book
| in manuscript now; and If | could publish
it | should be lifted ont of poverty, to-
gether with my poor little sisteri and she