Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-07-27

Os
II don't know what those fellows maid
you, but it's worth more to me than il
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.
II don't care about the number of
Words said the man, with touch Of
impatience. cts Navy's talk that
brings the dollars. Can have it now?"
"Oh, noP' said Paine in surprise.
1T isn't written yet. When must You
have the story?''
Thought you had it all in your
head" exclaimed Perkins, darting
CLINT OF suspicion at the author. "Well,
you know your business. Make it short,
though. How Tonga week?''
"You can have it in week"
"All right. In week you shall have
your $780," And Perkins bowed him
self out, well contented.
Meeting Frarie upon the street at a
later hour, Paine gayly accosted him
with outstretched hand.
"Shake, old manP' he cried. II have
bounded into the ranks of the high
priced story tellers.
Frarie shook hands with his custom.
airy seriousness.
"How is that, Paine?'' he queried.
Have you hypnotized an editor?''
Syndicate man, think. ] was too
much surprised to ask for particulars.
1t aoesn't matter. Perkins OF Chicago
wants to pay me $500 for story
''Long life to Perkins Of Chicagoi I
don't recall his name, but I am hearth.
ly pleased at your success, Paine.''
When Perkins reappeared at the ap-
pointed time, he glanced over the first
few pages of the manuscript with great
satisfaction and counted out $500 in
payment.
II hope this will be success" the
author civilly remarked. 81 have made
it as dramatic as possible, remembering
your interest in Navy's conversation.
cts sure success" Perkins an
swered. "Good evening""
He shook hands effusively with
Paine and Immediately took his depar-
ture.
Paine's sleeping room adjoined his
study, and the door between these
apartments was kept closed at night.
When he opened it the next morning on
his way down to breakfast, he uttered
a sharp cry Of dismay and sprang for
ward into the room excitedly.
During the night his desk had been
ransacked and it's contents strewn over
the floor. Paine made hurried search
through both rooms, but nothing else,
not even his watch and money, had
been disturbed. Moreover, when he had
carefully rearranged his disordered pa
pers they were all accounted for, with
this exoeption-every scrap Of writing
which related to John Navy had been
stolen.
Early that afternoon Perkins return
ed. He appeared depressed and discon-
certed, and his changed mien excited
Paine's wonder.
"Did you like my story?' he asked.
"Yes, it is a good story" Perkins
slowly responded. cit is something of
an advance on the other. Still don t
find that it contains all expected. -
why, what did you want?' Paine
was on his mettle now. "You would
hardly expect three volume novel for
the price you offered. }"
81 didn't bid high enough, that's a
fact" the publisher confessed. "But I
want the rest of it-badly. ! am think
ing of making you big offer for all
you know about Navy"
In a series of short stories like the
others?'
"Oh, anyway you like-yesl" Per-
kins got up and walked the floor impa-
tiently. II can't explain! It's this way I:
You have what I want, and if I can
make deal with you we won't dicker
about the price. Now, what can you do
for me?''
81 can supply the demand" said
Paine confidently. "But you must give
me time for this. Unfortunately all my
notes were stolen last nigh
"That was all you knew about Navy"
asked Perkins hopelessly.
Everything 1 had. Stay-there s
Navy's own story, but have already
dipped into that for few of his peculiar
ideas.
"Navy's own storyr' the publisher
echoed in strong excitement. whats
that?"
Paine made brief explanation, and
upon learning the fate of this story
Perkins drew long breath as if tanta-
LIKED almost beyond endurance.
"But you say that you copied it, he
exclaimed, with CLEAN of hope.
"Where's the copy?"
cit is still at my old home, packed
away with trunkful of old letters up
in the attic"
"Then you could get it?''
Certainly, if it is of value to you"
Strangely enough. the publishers
eagerness was quickly allayed by this
reply. "We will let the matter rest
awhile" he decided after moment of
abstraction and then quietly withdrew.
A few days afterward Paine received
letter and paper addressed in his
mothers handwriting. With pleasant
anticipation of home news he opened
the letter, but its first paragraph drew
from him cry of surprise. His old
home had also been entered by a bur-
glar. 1t was matter Of slight impor-
lance, but in the light of his own recent
oy fio;o ,,t,rI,.o