The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-04-17
THE LONG Arm"
A Case of Plagiarism.

"A SdS0 u E1dSlHT16us
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1t was o'clock in the evening, and
the editor of The Monthly Record sat
alone in his room at large desk
strewn with papers and cuttings, gaz-
ing thoughtfully at the sheets of man.
uscript which he had taken from pile
before him.
81 can't understand it at ALL" he was
thinking. Except for the change Of
scene and the matter of turning a col
lision into a fire the two stories are
practically identical. At any rate,
they're rather too similar for me to
pass the matter over. The extra chap
ter is original enough, though, and
really well written, I'll admit. But
what on earth possessed the fellow to
send it here, out of all the offices in
town where it might have gone in
stead? The whole thing is quite be-
yond me.
81 don't know quite what to say at
this early stage in the proceedings" he
said slowly. "But, let me see, first of
all, what's the sender's name and adj
dress? All! Claude Nottingham, IA
Cadogan street, W."
He paused irresolutely for second
and then wrote on the sheet in front of
him:
"Dear Sir-If the author of the short
story, The Solitary SOUL will call at
this office at o'clock on Thursday aft
ernoon, l or my representative will be
glad to see him."
"There, that ought to fetch him."
said the man, with peculiar smile, as
he signed the letter Douglas Baird,
Editor Then, directing the envelope
to the address given on the manuscript,
he posted it at the corner of the street
on his way home.
On the afternoon of the following
Thursday Douglas Baird sat in his
office again. He was obviously not
quite at his ease, and from time to
time he would open one Of the drawers
of his desk and examine the papers 1t
contained as If to assure himself that
none of them were missing. Present.
ly he looked at his watch.
"H'm A quarter past 8 already"
he unused. 81 wonder If my CORE
spondent is going to fight shy after
ALL"
A tap at the door interrupted his So
lilouuy. In answer to his somewhat
surly "Come in,'' the visitor entered.
The editor of The Monthly Rocket
slightly raised his eyebrows. Accus-
toned as he was to all sorts and condi-
lions of visitors, it was not often that
such a pretty girl as this invaded his
office. His surliness vanished Instant
". He could be charming to ladies'
when he chose This was one Of these
occasions. Accordingly, he set chair
for the visitor and returned her timid
greeting with geniality calculated
to dispel her very obvious nervousness.
1t was young but sad and troubled
face that looked at him across the
desk. The soft, fair hair might have
adorned the sunny head of child, but
the girlish mouth had assumed curve
of unnatural determination, and the
blue eyes were full of that awful fear
which is to be seen only in the eyes Of
the refined poor.
81 have a letter from Mr.. Baird, the
editor-I don't know If you are he
asking me to call at today" said the
girl.
81 am the editor, certainly, but l
can't recollect writing t0Miss-Chester.
In fact, / expect some one else at this
hour"
"Mr. Claude Hellingham. perhaps?'
eyes. Do you know him, then?" ask
ed the man eagerly.
"Oh, yes, think may say l do, a
little" she replied, smiling again. I'm
fact, II am the individual himself?'
81 don't quite understand" returned
Baird wonderingly. sIs there such a
person at all, then"
.'Oh, yes, very much so. I'm he. or.
rather, he's my nom de guerre," she
answered quietly, seeming to enjoy his
evident mystification.
''YouY' he replied. "You? What on
earth made you take such a pseudo
nym?' he demanded wonderingly.
"Oh, because l thought mans
name would give my story a better
chance of acceptance. But why did
you write to me?' she continued anx-
iously. 81 was so glad to get your let
ter! l thought you had accepted the
tale. You are going to publish it, aren't
you?' she added, all her smiles vanish
ing.
mo-" said Baird, looking at her
steadily. 81 don't think / shall.'
The girls eyes filled at the answer,
and, as he saw the bitter disappoint-
ment in her face, the editor began to
feel quite remorseful 1t was deuced
awkward business, he told himself.
81 am sorry, Miss Chester he said,
pulling himself together with an effort,
'that you should have thought my let
ter meant acceptance of your contribu-
ton. Before we go any further, how
ever, let me ask you one question. DID
you send in that story, The Solitary
SOUL as original matterY"
A pause ensued. The ticking OF
clock on the mantelpiece alone broke
the silence of the room. The editor
watched the woman keenly. A sudden
spasm passed over her face and a
hunted look came into her eyes. Then
for the first time the man noticed her
pallor and the poverty of her attire;
she had clasped her hands together, as
IL to make an appeal, and he saw tnat
even her gloves were carefully mend
ed.
"If you would rather not answer" ne
said gently and in very different tone
from that which he had intended to
adopt toward "Mr Hellingham, you
need not do SO. Only, think you must
acknowledge that it is impossible for
me to publish the story In my maya
zine"
"Nill you tell me w-whyr' she ask.
ed. trying to control her voice Il VIII
own that shouldn't have offered II
to you without an explanation per
haps. But III
For answer he took from drawer Z