The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-09-10
The plot Spoiled

=
got into conversation via the window,
which / pulled down for her, and a
magazine which lent her. She agreed
with me that it was a hot day and that
the magazine was stupid A chance in
cident gave a more personal turn to
the conversation. I took out my pock-
etbook to see that my ticket was safe,
and let a 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.
rs that you? Are you an earl?' she
asked.
Now, may at once state that am
not an earl, and that the letter was
| not addressed to me, but was intended
for my autograph collection. Yet she
was pretty, and I thought she seemed
| pleased at the idea that was an earl.
The only other occupants of the car
rage were two SOmnolent old ladies,
who were not likely to overhear me;
SO / decided to be an earl, and condo
scendingly admitted the fact.
I'm so glad she answered. IT did
| so want to meet real lord
Il am gratifed that my presence is
any pleasure to you,' I said, wonder
| ing whether she was an American lady
| or merely an ordinary radical.
You see,'' she replied, Il write a
little"
You're not going to interview me?''
I exclaimed, in real alarm, for the Earl
of Dunmore might be choleric man,
and the consequences unpleasant.
''Oh, no. she answered. 81 don't
write things like that. I write novels
"a milder form of felton, suggest
ed. perhaps I've read your novels
I'm afraid an earl wouldn't have
read them. They only come out in
penny editions she said, wistfully
But I'm writing a serial story for a
| Sunday paper now. That's better, isn't
| it?"
Much better. You're getting on I
| replied, with increased interest in my
companion, for had long wished to
know what kind of person writes pen
ny dreadfuls. ss'But are you going to
put me into the serial story?''
Would you mind much?'' she asked
We'll, if you didn't give my name,''
I said
tits awfully good of you," she an
swered, gratefully, '.and you can tell
me a lot of things I want to know.
You see, people who buy penny books
like them to be about lords, and it's so
never met one.'
| IF I 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
Or very good, aren't they?''
Generally" I said. I'm afraid I'm
! one of the bad kind
'Im 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 what's makes it So
hard. How are you SO bad?''
sOh, I'm pretty bad all round, i
said. ut is not necessary to be partic-
ular to crime or two in drawing my
| character. I'm sorry that I can't tell
you much about my crimes The po-
| lice, you know. That's the worst Of
| democracy
ooh, I like thatr' she replied. s.I'Il
certainly put that in. But you might
tell me about them. I wouldn't let
anyone know they We're yours
II am not alone in these matters.'' I
| said, mySteriouSly. II am sworn to a
silence as deep as the grave. I wish l
could be more explicit. Our crimes are
so unlike the petty crimes Of the peo-
ple''
Are you going to your castle now::,'
she asked.
NO. I said; TIN going to HINTON to
stay with a man there. He's a mere
commoner; but he's got money; and
dice can be cogged, you know
You play with cogged dice, do your
she answered. How lovely. I'm go
ing to Hinton, too she added. after
pause.
do you live there?" I asked. begin
ming to feel uneasy.
NO." she said. Tin going to Mrs,
Dawson's.'
Mrs. Dawsons?'' I inquired family.
son q visit?"
NO. she said. I am going as maid
| to Mrs. Dawson. was in service. YOU
know, before I took to literature. and T
generally took a place for my. summer
holiday. It will be jolly. I've never
been at SO big a house before .
I was very uncomfortable, for / was
| going to stay at the house too.
It occurred to me at first to pretend
that was travelling incognito; but she
| would be certain to find me out. In all
| probability Mrs. Dawson would be in
possession of the whole conyersa ton
in a day or two. and should become a
laughing stock. I am a shy man and
averse to ridicule. Besides. for several
reasons. [ wished to produce a good