Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-08-09

the state of transportation thH now en-
compassed him. she asked him, tim
! idly, TO contide his woes % her, and
perhaps She might bc able 10 help him
/ out-a suggestion which Jim received
with lofty scorn.
rs it a money trouble, Jim?" she
asked.
Now, what the deuce good would 1T
do you To know? Have you banking
COUNT
u have a small one, said his wife.
trembling as She spoke, for She felt
that her secret was in jeopardy.
Jim looked up at her quickly.
"A small one!" he said. Cant you
tell me plainly how much money you
have, if You have any?"
You don't tell me plainly" she an
severed with more spirit than she had
yet shown, "how much it is that you
need"
Very well" replied Jim, grufily. Il
need five hundred pounds sterling.
Have you got it?'
mo, have not. How soon do you
want it?"
Il want it now. That is, want it
tomorrow or the next day at the
latest"
Then" said his wife with dignity,
II will see if | can get it for You to-
morrow or the next day
After Fleming had left for London
on the following morning his wife put
on her best apparel and was in the city
soon after her husband. She never
called upon her agent before. All her
nego .iations had been carried on by
letter, She walked three times past
the office before she had the courage to
go up the stairs.
Il have brought you here" she said,
her hands trembling as she undid the
string, for she seemed To have vogue
idea that if she showed him the writ
ing she might have less difficulty 20
get along with him. Il have brought
with me the complete manuscript OF
the latest novel bave written. ! think
it is better than the last
1T Is sure to be good, " said the agent,
encouragingly.
"But-but-" stammered Mrs. Flem-
ing. ~ wanted TO know if you would
advance me FIVE hundred pounds sterl-
ing.
DO you mean that we are TO ask
that much for the novel;
'Oh, no no, said Mrs. Fleming ca
gerly. But promise 10 write you an
other one as soon as possible. | need
the five hundred pounds sterling for
particular purpose, and | must have it
to-day, if it is 10 do any good.
Well" said the agent, we some
times advance money 70 authors, and
if | could be sure of having all your
work for the future | think ! might
stretch point in this case and let you
have the money
Meanwhile the agent, as soon as she
left the room. called the clerk and said:
Write to James Fleming, of Pot
Shots that we regret that we are not
able TO sell him Hilda Markham's story
for five hundred pounds. The author,
tell him, has called upon us and re-
fused 70 sell for less than six hundred
pounds, although, of course, you may
inform him that if he had taken our
offer when first made, we would have
had TO pocket the loss.
As soon as the letter was signed
The receipt of it nearly drove that
good man wild. lie had the announce
ment of the story in type and wanted
to publish II in the next number He
had such little faith in his wife being
able 20 get the money that he had
actually forgotten she had promised TO
do so, and he went home that night
in even worse temper than the night
before.
His wife said alphabetically TO him
when he came in:
Il have gotten that five hundred
pounds, but would it make any differ
ence to you If l did not give you the
check for il until tomorrow"
What are you talking about?" he
cried, angrily. IF you have the money
tonight why should | wait till to-mor-
row?"
II have 1t in the form of a check"
she answered, land the check wish TO
place in the BANK"
"I'll warrant the check is not good
for anything" said Fleming. Let me
see it"
81 would rather not do that" said
his wife II will give you the check
il you will not ask any questions.
Good heavens!" cried Jim. Il will
ask no questions if you really have the
money. Let me see the check"
He looked at it for a moment in
amazement, and then at his wife. For
getting his promise, he said
"How in Heavens name do you come
TO have check from Greig & Co.? 1t
is TO Greig q Co. that have to pay five
hundred pounds sterling; or rather if l
had the money yesterday or to-day it
would have been five hundred pounds
sterling. Now they have raised me an
other hundred. They say that Hilda
Markham came in to-day and refused
TO sell her story for less than six hun
dred pounds sterling"
"IIilda Markham" cried his wife
family.
Yes, IIilda Markham. am com
PEELED to buy one of her stories or see
our circulation go to pieces"
Fleming's wife sat down in an easy
chair and there was twinkle about
her eyes hat St1rpeSted LAUGH tor "a hich