The daily morning Alaskan., 1899-12-14
TRAPPED BY A NOVEL

oosee-o0osSNeSSSSS
 "A ecntlcman-a Mir. Portman-tO see you sIr." saId my audlady, looking lu at r.. door.
 "Show him up. Mrs. Jennings" l re- pl.,J without glanclng up from my manuscript
 A few moments later Mir. Portman. am ,uusr stranger Co me. was ushered Into my room. He came torward-a man of la,cc build. some 70 years of acc. w'th slight stoop-and. fixing a pair of d-camy dark eyes upon me, be Inquired lu a low. earnest tone:
 "Nlr Cecil Lawrence. l believer
 "Yrs Ec seated moment wtll you:" | rcp,.cd. indicating a chair.
 Uv acccptrd the ofer silently and waited my leisure. hls eyes fixed upon thc craca,Iu- io-S in the sra'e and his chin r,>'.u- upou his hands.
 What ,au do for you. Mr.-Mr Portwau. asked presently. putting down my pcu aud turning round upon my visitor
 ~You arc NIT. Cecil Lawrence, the author. are you uot?" be returned.
 "Nvs"
 srlc author Of "A Romance In Blue DycE
 "Ycs"
 "po you mlud telling me how you caMc .y thc plot for that storyr' be sa.L. l.s dreamy eyes lighting up for an Instant
 "Tm afraid cannot give you any h. formation upon that matter" l replied. Authors do not generally communi' cate tIcir methods of work and thought Co s.rra-cr>. and my time Is at present so much occupied that unless you real ly have some important business with ne ! rcaly'-
 -I have important business with you.- Le exclaimed almost angrily. "po you fancy that have come down an the way from Lancashire Co ask mere slip of au author hls methods of workT'
 Prom LaucaShlre?" 1 said in sur pr.se. Indeed. DO: DO sane man would But please state your business
 "NM You answer my question: he cried. rising impatlently and folding h.s hands behind hls back. How did you come by the facts 10 your sioryy
 since you attach such undue im- portauce Co the matter" 1 replied cold iy. "I can only say that owe some of the plot of my Romance To Blue Dye Co a newspaper paragraph [ ehsnced upon S0uc IS months ago.
 ..l,... .---. -N ---- -..- -Na- -------rNs-.
 Really. unless you can ten me in what way this matter Is of 90 much importance Co you. fear 1 must de- cline Co continue thls interview, for. as have already told you. am exceed m-iy busy"
 Uc looked at me steadily for a mo mcu; iu silence, and the light came h. Co l.s eyes again.
 "Ny name ls Portman-John Port. mag of rortman X Stayle, dyers and cl,arcrs. EocaJalc." De said 10 a pecul lar tone ! could not understand Do you uulcrsjaadT"
 "No. | may he very dense. but dout understand in what way the statement of youg Identity proves the Importance of your vlsit." responded hccom.u- annoyed with hlm, hls man. ucr> aud l., tone.
 "Y1u don't. ehT' he blurted out "Wcu. S,ay,e. my late partner, was the man who was found In the vat of dye. You are a picturesque liar. you know
 [ Startcd-uot ai the fellows Insult bui at thc crrm of Gn Idea that was dawu.ug upon mc. This man. then. waS tle actual being whom bad ere atpd as [ thought. 10 the person of James Saxon. the murderer or hls part. urr fully understood now bow greatly thlS man. whose actual exist encc ! had never suspected. must have been annoyed by my book. for doubt less persons who had read lt and knew Of tar manner in which my visitors unfortunate partner had met his death had commented upon the matter un. pleasantly Go my visitor.
 "Do you understand me nowT my visitor demanded. seeing ! was not pre- pared Co say anything about hls preVi. ous speech
 "Yrs. fear SO" replied with a sick ly smile "But lf you have come here with the Intention of bullying me you made an error in the address. My SO ucltors. Mcssrs. Wright X Wright. Ely place. are the people Co call upon"
 He looked at me and trowned. Then he crossed the room. locked the door and put the key in his pocket.
 "What thp deuce do you meanT' cried. starting up indignantly. You are presumIng uupardonably Replace the key and unlock the doorr' and | went over Co him as 1 spoke.
 Gently. gently. my good sir" be said. "I am not nearly satisfied with our chat yet Look at thls and sit down quietly"
 "Thls." which he held ln my face. was a revolver. Was at the mercy of q mailman?
 "You are nt the wrong end of it. you know. SO slt down and be civil"
 | shrugged my shoulders sod return ed Co my cha'~ lowing the unpleasant
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