The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1896-03-18
FOUNDED ON FACT.
..Mr. Rogers. did Won saw

Mr.. Rogers, dld you say!
eyes, sir; tall, middle aged gen.
tleman, replied my servant.
I could recollect no acquaintance of
the name.
"Ask him to step in here, I said at
length.
The man who entered my study was
complete stranger to me. He was tall,
between 40 and 90 years Of age, rather
thin and very angular in his move
ments. He wore a short beard, was
slightly bald and had decidedly pleasant
features. When he smiled, his eyes
reemed to sparkle and he exhibited two
excellent rows of teeth.
II am afraid l am quite unknown to
you, - he began.
/ bowed my head and wondered what
was coming next.
"But Jour name as rising young
novelist and writer of short stories is.
Of course, familiar to me. -
Who could he bef began to have
visions of publishers and editors clamor-
ing at my door for contributions from
my pen. Was he about to give me a
commission for a new serial? Perhaps
he represented some leading magazine
and was prepared to pay sums undream-
ed Of for my tales of love and adven.
ture. Or was he only some newspaper
interviewer bent on satisfying the Curl
osity of his readers respecting my opin-
ions and manner of life?
pray be seated L said.
We sat facing one another on opposite
sides of the hearth rug. 1t was q cold,
dull November day, and the bright fire
that burned in the CRATE was comfort
ing. Mr.. Rogers took from his pocket
copy of popular magazine and held it
on his knee.
Capital story that of yours ~
"Which?" / asked
"That last one in here" he said, tap
ping the covers of tho book, "the story
called The Mystery of Rowner's Mill ."
~ am glad you like it, but really -
"A splendid storyl Rather daring
though. /"
"Daring?'
"Yes-to publish story of real life
as mere fiction.
II don't understand WHAT
"But why did you make Maud dark
girl? OF course she was fair, as you
know. Her real name was Mabel, but
that doesn't matter. !"
"You are quito
"Still. you have hit off Maltby to
"The story, assure, you, was
Written under pressure of time?
Yes, have no doubt of it. But your de-
scription of the old mill is exact. Row
ner's Mill is, of course, Radford's Mill;
near B"
"Allow me to explain
"Quite unnecessary, l assure you.
You were perfectly justified in changing
the name. But that passage in which
you describe the act of vengeance on
Maltby is remarkably powerful and ao-
ourate. All here it is: Seeing his VIC
tim powerless, Jasper Gore, with the
arms and for ono moment held him
above his head in front of the open win
dow Then he hurled the wretched man
into space. Down, down he fell, until,
with splash that was inaudible amid
the roar and rattle of the mill, Maltby
disappeared in the deep water of the
race, and was instantly battered to u
shapeless mass by the huge revolving
water wheelP p"
"But surely you know
"Oh, yes; know every inch of the
place. or course you are little bit
rough on me-. +"
"On you?''
Yes; you see, Jasper Core
rose to my feet. So far had hardly
been able to get word in edgeways. l
had not the slightest idea what he was
driving at. He was exhausting my pa
thence.
"Look here, sir" l shouted warmly,
81 haven't yet the pleasure of knowing
who you are. What the-will you kind
ly tell me what you are talking about?"
"Why. my dear sir, / am talking
about this story of yours called THE
Mystery Of Rowner's Mill was just
saying that You have made me-other-
wise Jasper Core
Gore is one of my characters. UNI
derstand your name is RogersP p
The man leaned back and roared with
laughter. / sank into my chair in
state of evaporation.
Excuse my laughing" he said, "but
when you put on that innocent air it is
irresistibly funny. What does it matter
which name use, Gore or Rogers-are
they not one and the same? What was
easier? You took my real name, Rogers,
rejected the last two letters, transposed
the others, and then you had it--Gore p
was now quito out OF temper.
II don't know what your object is,
/ said, lin coming here and talking this
nonsense. The story is pure fiction-a
simple creation Of my own brain--from
beginning to end So far as / know, the
characters never lived, the incidents
never happened, the mill described nev-
er had any except in my own
imagination. -
My visitor watched me as l spoke,
and grin slowly broadened on his face,
until he again burst into loud laughter.
~ should never have believed itP
u0 bdlu.
believed what2''
"You novelists, it would appear, are
so stepped in fiction that you lose all re-
gard for truth. -
"What do you mean, sir9" cried in
dignantly.
"Is it necessary to explain? Here, in
this magazine, have a story every es-
gential detail Of which is actual truth.
and you coolly tell me that it was all
evolved ont of your own brainP T.
Certainly So 1t was. T"
"Now, what is tho use OF talking
like that to me--to me? lam Rogers
Rogers is Gore. (call me by which
name you like) am the man whose acts
are described in this story.
4 ~ 70