Gardnerville record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1898-1902, 1900-10-11
se to publish the story III my maga-

ttut.
"Will you tell me w-why?" she ask
ed trying to control her voice. Il will
own that shouldn't have offered 1t
to you without an explanation. per-
haps. But ~
For answer he took from drawer a
newspaper and pile of manuscript.
"This is your manuscript" he remark
ed. watching her keenly as she put
out her hand for II. "and this he
added gravely. taking UP the paper.
sis the journal in which certain
story entitled The Liar appeared.
Now perhaps you will understand"
The girls hand trembied SO that she
could hardly hold the printed sheet.
After momentary glance she laid 1t
down again, and then, turning her
blanched face to him. she said tremu-
lously. Il ask your pardon"
"Wil you tell me. Miss Chester" he
asked slowly. why you sent this to
me? Was 1t for the sake of getting
into print-a natural enough vanity,
I'll allow-or," he continued In softer
tone, was the payment that you
would have received had the nanu.
script been accepted an important con
slderationf"
"Oh Mr.. Baird" she exclaimed. try
ing TO regain her composure. u know
II was a dreadfully dishonorable thing
to do. but-but yon don't know how
hard II has been for me In London
woman has no chance al all and for
girl like me. without interest or
friends. ii seems impossible TO get
work. I've lost heart utterly now. and
I'm so tired of II all
Have you met with any success al
all!" he asked sympa thetically.
| "Yes, a little, but not very much and
nothing regular. got some fairly reg.
ular work on The Morning Comet. bn,
the paper failed last summer aud lefi
some money owing to me, too she
added sadly.
THAT was hard lines Did You write
much for III"
"Yes. "a good deal. did all those
articles on The Proyincialism of Lon
don and also the serial The Heart of
Woman with some short tales as
we'll"
by love. Was 1t you who wrote
The Heart of a Woman them he ex
claimed. with interest. How silly OF
me. ought TO have remembered the
name. 1t was capital story. You
should get it published In volume form
I'm sure 1t would succeed"
i've tried to, but ii was no coed
| The first firm | offered II to kept II for
hon ta saX
they would bring the story out II
would bear the expense. The next peo
| ple who considered 1t were not so bad
They asked me to pay only half tile
cost | knew they were good firm
and would treat me well, and SO tried
| to get the money before the book would
be too much out Of date"
THAT Is why you sent this manu-
script to me then!'
Yes; ! saw that You were Offering
% guineas for the best 10000 word sto
ry The money meant such IA lot 10 me.
and was SO awfully hard npl ! be
gan a story and got half way through
with IL, but IL wasn't alive, and some
how couldn't get on with II. Then one
day | came across an old file of the
Cape Town Mercury In the reading
room at the museum. ! saw story
called The Liar in it and liked the
central idea very much. worked it
up and changed the construction lit
tie and added another chapter, and
then-well, then sent 1t here. never
imagined any one would recognize II.
The paper was over ten years old and
had lasted only dozen numbers.
And now think I've nothing more
10 say" she went on. except that I'm
ever so sorry about 1t all. | hope you
won't think too badly of me. 1t was
such a temptation! VIII yon tell me.
though"-her voice faltered "how II
was you found out? | didn't think any
one In London could have read the
Cape Town Mercury or, even II they
had read The Liar. that they could
remember 1t now. II is a curious coin
cidence, OF course.
YES" answered the man slowly. "ap
extraordinary coincidence. The fact
Is. though cr-I myself happen TO be
the original author of Tile Liar. y
Sketch.