The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-22
THE PLOT SPOILED.

conversation via the window. which I
pulled down for her, and a magazine. which
L lent her She agreed with me that it was
hot day and that the magazine was
stupid. A chance incident gave a more
personal turn to the conversation. I took
out my pocketboOk to see that nv ticket
was safe and let letter drop on the floor
of the carriage. The letter was addressed
to the Earl of Dunmore. Her eyes fell on
it, and she looked at me with a pleased
smile.
is that your Are you an EARL" she
asked
Now may at once state that am not
an earl, and that the letter was not adj
dressed to me, but was intended for my
autograph collection Yet she was pretty.
and thought she seemed pleased at the
idea that I was an earl. The only other
occupants of the carriage were two sonno-
lent old ladies, who were not likely to
overhear me, so decided to be an earl
and condescendingly admitted the fact
''I'm SO glad, " she answered. 81 did so
want to meet a real lord
II am gratitied that my presence is any
pleasure to you, - said, wondering wheth-
er she was an American or merely an or
binary radical
you see, - she replied, ST write q Lit
tie.
you're not going to interview rneP'
exclaimed in real alarm, for the Earl of
OuQmOEo n1gnG De q CnOISr1C man and
the consequences unpleasant
ooh, no, she answered ''Idon't write
things like that write novels 3"
"a miloer form of fiction, - I suggested.
perhaps I've read your novels. -
I'm afraid an earl woul0n't have read
them. They only come out in penny edi-
TONS" she said wistfuIly "But I'm
writing a serial story for a Sunday paper
now. That's better, isn't it?''
"Much better. You're getting on,
replied, with increased interest in my COM
panion, for 1 had long wished to know
what kind of person writes penny dread
fuls- But are you going to put me into
the serial stOry?'
would you mind much9'' she asked
"Well, if you don't give my name" I
said
cts awfully good of you," she answer
ed gratefully, land you can tell me lot
of things want to know. You see, people
who buy penny books like them to be
about lords, and it's SO hard to write about
lords when you ve never met one. "
eff 1 can be of any assistance, - I said
"Thank you very much,'' she said.
"Now tell me, are you a bad lord or a good
lord? They're always very bad OF very
good, aren't theyS"
"Generally,' - said. "1'm afraid I'm
one of the bad kind ."
''I'm so glad, - she answered "There's
a good marquis in my story. He's the
hero and I can write about him pretty
easily, because he comes to see the humble
heroine. And there's a bad earl. He's
the villain, and he Lives in his castle, and
that's what makes it so hard. How are
you 50 bad?"
ooh, I'm pretty bad all round, - said
cts not necessary to be particular to
crime or two in drawing my character
I'm sorry that can't tell you much about
my crimes The police, you know. That's
the worst of democracy.
"Oh, I like that" she replied. "1'n
certainly put that in. But you might tell
me about them. 1 wouldn't let any one
know they were yours"
81 am not alone in these matters, -
said mysteriously. 81 am sworn to a
silence as deep as the grave. I wish
could be more explicit Our crimes are so
unlike the petty crimes of the people
Are you going to your castle now" she
asked
"No'' said; F'I'm going to Hinton to
stay with man there. He's mere COM
moner, but he's got money, and dice can
be cogged, you know. 3"
''You play with cogged dice, do you?''
she answered. How lovely I'm going
to Kinton, too, - she added after a pause.
''Ho you live there2'' I asked, beginning
TO feel uneasy.
NO. she said "Im going to Mrs
Dawson s. -
"AIrs. Dawson's2'' I inquired family.
"On visit2''
fFNO, - she said, f'I am going as maid to
Mrs. Dawson. was in service, you know,
before I took to literature, and I generally
take place for my summer holiday. 1t
will be jelly. I've never been at so big
house before
was very uncomfortable, for was go
ing to stay at the house too.
1t occurred to me at first to pretend that
Travelling iTc00T1itO bIlf5 she vVOnld
be certain to find me out. In all probable
ity Mrs Dawson would be in possession Of
the whole conversation in day or two,
and should become a laughing stock. I
am shy man and averse to ridicu1e. Be
sides, for several reasons, I wished to pro
duce a good impression on Mrs. Dawson
decided to make a clean breast of the
whole thing to the young woman. When
had told her, she looked at me with unUt-
terable contempt.
''Then you're not lord at ALL - she
said. "And was everything else you told
me just as untrue9"
81 am afraid so, - answered.
''You ought to be ashamed of yourself"
she went on. you might have spoilt my
novel altogether. I shall write to the Au-
thors' society about you. -
II want you" said, mot to tell any
one. -
reasoned with her for some time, and
eventually agreed to give her a sovereign
down and three more if she kept the secret
while I was at Kinton. We had only just
concluded the agreement when we reached
our destination As we stopped, the young
woman handed the sovereign back and
said, with smile:
Mr.. Trevor, you shouldn't pretend to
be tine Earl of DunznOFe when your nsne
is on your hatbox."
''Heuo, Lena, here you are, exclaimed
Mr. Dawson from the platform How
do you do Trevor? didn't know you
knew my niece. -