The Afro-American advance., 1899-09-16
Trapped by a Novel
GENTLEMAN Mr.. Portman
to see you, sir, said my land

"Show him up, Mrs. Jennings" 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
man of large build, some 40 years of
age, with slight stoop-and, fixing a
pair of dreamy, dark eyes upon me, he
inquired, in a low, earnest tone:
Mr.. Cecil Lawrence, believer"
Yes. Be seated a moment, will
you?" l 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? ?" asked, presently, putting
down my pen and turning round upon
my visitor.
You are Mr.. Cecil Lawrence, the
author, are you not?" he returned.
Yes
THE author of A Romance in Blue
Dye'?"
YES"
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 cannot give you any in
formation upon that natter | replied.
Authors do not generally communi-
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, ! really"
II have important business with
you!" he exclaimed, almost angrily.
"Do you fancy that | have come down
all the way from Lancashire to ask
mere slip of an author his methods of
work ?"
From Lancashire?" said, in sur
prise. "Indeed, no; no sane man would.
But please state your business"
"Wil you answer my question:" he
cried, risiug impatiently and folding
his hands behind his back. How did
you come by the facts in your story?"
Since you attach such undue inn
portance to the matter" l replied cold
ly, II can only say that / owe some of
the plot OF my Romance in Blue Dye
TO a newspaper paragraph l chanced
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, | fear l must de-
cline to continue this interview. for,
as have already told you, am exceed
ingly busy"
He looked at me steadily for a mo-
ment in silence, and the light came
into his eyes again.
MY name is Portman-John Port
man, Of Portman & Stayle. Dyers and
Cleaners. Rochdale," he said, in a pc
culiar tone / could not understand.
do you understand"
mo. / may be very dense. but ]
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.
We'll, Stayle, my late partner, was the
man who was found in the vat of dye.
You are a picturesque liar, you know!"
| 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 | had ere
ated, as l thought, in the person Of
James Saxon. the murderer of his part
ner. | fully understood now how
greatly this man, whose actual exist
ence / had never suspected, must have
been annoyed By my book; for, doubt
less, persons who had read ii and knew
of the manner in which my visitors
unfortunate partner had met his death
had commented upon the matter un-
pleasantly to my visitor.
"Do you understand me now?" my
visitor demanded, seeing | wac not pre-
pared to say anything about his pre-
yious speech.
Yes, 1 fear So" replied, with a
sickly smile. But, il you have come
here with the intention Of bullying me,
you made an error in the address. Ny
solicitors, Messrs. Wright q. Wright,
Ely Place. are the people 70 call upon.
He looked at me and frowued. Then
hC NAuhAtu Aht Tu3AHf tethE4 tue ABoEs
and put the key in his pocket.
What the deuce do you mean" !
cried, starting up Indignantly. "You
are presamFng unpardonabiy Replace
the key and unlock the door" And J
went over 10 him as spoke.
Gently, gently. my good sir" he
said. = am not nearly satisfied with
our chat yet Look at this, and ait
down quietly"
This which he held in my face
was revolver. Was ! at the rsIercy OF
uladman2
foI are at the wrong end II il. you
know. 40 sit down and be- civil"
Ishragged my shoulders and returned
to my chair. having tie unTs.easanf
ssnxatisa that be was Covering me
al the time.
when had seated myself he came
and sst down at the other side of my
tAele. laid his revolver in front os him.
@a heEnn to bite his nails. WAITED biA