The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-10-03
TRAPPED BY A NOVEL

Being an illustration of the Adage.
Gan Evil Conscience Needs
No Accuser."

"A NIL.
see you,s sir" said my landlady, looking
in at my door.
"Show him up, Mrs. jennings" I re.
piled without glancing up from my
manuscript.
A few moments later Mr.. Portman,
an entire stranger to me, was ushered
into my room. He came forward-a
nan of large build, some 40 years of
age, with a slight stoop-and, fixing a
pair of dreamy dark eyes upon me, lie
inquired in a low, earnest tone:
"Mr. Cecil Lawrence, l believer
Eyes. Be seated a moment, will
you?" replied, indicating a chair.
He accepted the offer silently and
waited my leisure, his eyes fixed upon
the cracking logs in the CRATE and his
chin resting upon his hands.
What can ! do for you, Mr.-Mr.
Portman" l asked presently, putting
down my pen and turning round upon
my visitor.
"You are Dir. Cecil Lawrence, the
author, are you notY' he returned.
YES"
"The author of "a Romance In Blue
Dyer"
eyes"
do you mind telling me how you
came by the plot for that story" he
said, his dreamy eyes lighting up for
an instant.
"I'm afraid l cannot give you any in
formation upon that NATTER" l replied.
Authors do not generally commune
cate their methods of work and thought
to strangers, and my time is at present
so much occupied that unless you real
ly have some important business with
me I really
Il have important business with
your he exclaimed almost angrily.
do you fancy that have come down
all the way from Lancashire to ask a
mere slip of an author his methods of
work?"
..From Lancashire 2" I said in sur
prise. Indeed, no; no sane man would.
But please state your business"
"Will you answer my question:" he
cried, rising impatiently and folding
his hands behind his back. "How did
you come by the facts in your story?'
"Since you attach such undue i'm
portance to the NATTER" / replied cold
ly, II can only say that l owe some of
the plot of my Romance In Blue Dye
to a newspaper paragraph | Glanced
upon some IS months ago."
"Can you show me this paragraph"
"Really, unless you can tell me in
what way this matter is Of so much
Importance to you, l fear l must de-
cline to continue this interview. for, as
/ have already told you, l am exceed
ingly busy"
He looked at me steadily for a mo-
ment in silence, and the light came in
to his eyes again.
my name is Portman-John Port
mar Of Portman & Stayle, dyers and
cleaners, Rochdale," he said in a pecul-
lar tone l could not understand. "Do
you understand"
mo. l may be very dense, but L
don't understand in what way the
statement Of your identity proves the
Importance of your VISIT | responded.
becoming annoyed with him, his man
ners.and his tone.
"You don't, eh?" he blurted out.
"Well, Stayle, my late partner, was
the man who was found in the va Of
dye. You are a picturesque liar, YOU
know!"
l ~started-not at the fellows insult.
but at the germ Of an idea that was
dawning upon me. This man, then.
was the actual being whom l had Gre
ated, as l thought, in the person Of
James Saxon. the murderer Of his part
ner. l fully understood now how
greatly this man, whose actual exist
ence l had never suspected, must have
beer annoyed by my book, for doubt
less persons who had read it and knew
of the manner in which my visitors
unfortunate partner had met his death
had commented upon the matter I'M
pleasantly to my visitor.
do you understand me now" nv
visitor demanded, seeing l was not pre-
pared to say anything about his previ-
u speech.
ASas 81, lCpl1Cu Will Il SICK
ly smile. But if you have come here
with the intention Of bullying me you
made an error in the address. NV So
l%icitors, Messrs. Wright & Wright, Ely
place, are the people to call upon"
He looked at me and frowped. Then
he crossed the room, locked the door
and put the key in his pocket.
What the deuce do you meanY" l
cried, starting up Indignantly. "You
are presuming unpardonably. Replace
the key and unlock the door!!" and |
wen over to him as l spoke.
Gently, gently, my good sir" he
said. II am not nearly satisfied with
II chat yet. Look at this and sit
down quietly"
This" which he held in my face,
was a revolver. Was l at the mercy Of
a mailman?
you are at the wrong end of it, you
know, SO sit down and be civil"
shrugged my shoulders and return
ed to my chair, having the unpleasant