Evening star., 1896-08-22

fer" said Paine, with instant shrewdness.
OF course 1 shall expect an advance on
What the Maxima paid me-
That's basipess!" Perkins replied "T
don't know what those fellows paid you
but It's worth more to me than 1t is to
them. How would $500 strike your
"Done" cried Paine. You shall have
the best story i can write. Five thousand
words?" he asked. in the next breath.
don't care about the number Of
words. WORDS. said the man. with a touch of i'm
dollars. Can / have 1t now?'
oh, nor said Paine, In surprise. "It
isn't m written yet! When must you have
Thought you had it all in your headr'
exclaimed Perkins, darting CLINT of sus-
picion at the author. We'll you know
your business: Make 1t short, though How
ICng-a weekT'
You can have it in a week"
AN right In week you shall have
your 800" And Perkins bowed himself
out, well contented.
meeting Frarie upon the street at a later
hour, Paine gayly accosted him, with out
stretched hand
Shake. old manw he cried. II have
bounded into the ranks Of the high-priced
How is that. Palmer" he queried. Have
you hypnotized an editor?"
syndicate man, 1 think. was too much
surprised to ask for particulars. 1t doesn't
N'h-ps VI SmCdSO wants 10 pay
me $500 for q story"
Long life to Perkins of Chicago don't
aeeali MS name; but am heartily pleased
at your success, Paine"
Wnep Perkins reappeared at the annoi,t
eu tihe, ne glanced over the first few paees
OF the manuscript with great satisfaction.
ana counted count out 500 in payment.
nope this will be a success, the AL
,n 1nor civiiiy remarked Il have made 1t as
dramatic as possible. remembering your IT,
terest In Navy's conversation"
lts sure successw Perkins answered.
in high elation. Good evening"
He shook hands effusively with Paine and
Immediately took his departure
falnes sleeping room adjoined his study,
ana the door between these apartments
was kept closed at night. When he opened
II the next morning on his way down 70
breakfast he uttered a sharp cry of dis
citedly
During the night his desk had been ran
s. cked and its contents strewn over the
moor Paine made hurried search through
potn rooms, but nothing else-not even his
watch and morey-had been disturbed
moreover. when he had carefully rearranz-
ed his disordered papers they were all ac-
counted for. with this exception-eyery
scrap OF writing which related to John
Navy had been stolen.
Early that afternoon Perkins returned
he appeared depressed and Disconnected
and his changed mien excited Paine's Won
oiN you IhS my SlOry! he asked.
Yes. 1t is good story" Perkins SLOWLY
responded. 1T is something Of an advance
tains all expected"
Why, what did you want?" paine was
on his mettle nowD "You would hardly ex-
offered!' wv
Il didn't bid high enough. that's fact"
the pubhSher confessed But / want the
rest OF it-badiy. ! am thisAing of making
you a big offer for all you know about
Navy. 'A''
o,hs1ss. hin series of short stories like the
''oh. any way you like-yesw Perkins
got up and walked the floor impatientIy
II can't explain! It's this way: You
nave what / want. and If / can make a
zeal with you we won't d!cker about the
price Now, what can you do for me?'
Il can supply the demand" said Paine
confidently: But you must give me time
Ior TINS. unfortunately, all my notes were
That was all you knew about Navy?"
asked Perkins, hopelessly
Everything had. Stay,-there is Navy's
ewn e story; but l have already dipped into
That for few of his peculiar ideas"
Nays own story" the publisher echoed
In strong excitement. What's that?"
Paine made a brief explanation, and up
or learning the fate of this story Perkins
beyond endurance.
But you say that you copied it," he ex-
claimed, with a gleam of hope. where's
the copy?'
''It is still at my old hcme-packed away
with trunkful of old letters up in the
attic"
Then you could get it?'
Certainly, If II is of any value to YOU"
Strangely enough, the publishers eager
ness was quickly allayed by this reply
We will let the matter rest awhile" he
decided. after q moment of abstraction; /;
and then quietly withdrew.
A few days afterward Paine received a
letter and paper addressed in his mother s
handwriting. With pleasant anticipation
OF home news he opened the letter. but its
first paragraph drew from him a cry of
surprise. His old home had also been en-
tered by burglar. 1t was matter of
slight Importance but, In the light of his
own recent experience, VS. sufficiently
disturbing.
Further details made 1t very clear that
both of these trivial robberies had been
committed by the same mysterious person.
AS in the former case, nothing of value had
been stolen; but the contents of an old
trunk had been found scattered over the
attic floor
Il send you the Gazette, which has i,s t
arrived Mrs. Paine wrote in conclusion.
Il see that the Penniwel money has been
recovered, and that one Of the burglars is
In custody. Possibly this is the man who
entered our horse"
A sudden light broke in upon Pafue's
mind. There was but one man who knew
of the papers in his trunk-one man who
had shown an inSatiate curiosity about
John Navy SnatchinG up the Gazette. he
quickly ran over its prolx account of the
arrest.
The last paragraph was especially inter
eSting to Kepler Paine.
The prisoner registered at the Union
House as Perkins of Chicago. His connec-