Gardnerville record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1898-1902, 1900-10-11
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LONG ARM. ("
A Case OF Plagiarism.

olOue u MS TOOul dt u ldTgc ueSk
strewc with papers and cuttings. gaz
Ing thoughtfully at the sheets of man.
uscript which he had taken from pile
before hlm.
II can't understand 1t at ALL" he was
thinking. Except for the change oi
scene and the matter Of turning a col
iision into a fire the two stories are
practically Identical. At any rate,
they're rather too similar for me IL
pass the matter over. The extra chap
ter Is original enough. though. and
really well written. Ill admit. Rui
what on earth possessed the fellow 10
send II here, out Of all the offices IL,
town where 1t might have gone IN.
stead? The whole thing Is guile be
yond me.
II don't know quite what TO say al
this early stage In the proceedings" he
said slowly. but, let me see. first of
all. what's the sender's name and AL.
dress? All! Claude Hellingham, II
Cadogan street. W."
lie paused irresolutcly for second
and then wrote on the sheet In front Of
him:
Dear Slr-If the author of the short
story, The Solitary Soul will call at
this office at :, O'Clock on Thursday aft
ernoon ! or my representative will he
glad 10 see him."
nThere 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 II 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
tune he would open one OF the dra wers
OF his desk and examine the papers IL
contained as II to assure himself that
none Of them were missing. Present.
ly he looked at his watch.
HIN! \ quarter past 3 already"
he mused. u wonder II my CORE
spondent is going to fight shy after
all"
A tap at the door interrupted his so
liloquy. 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
tions Of visitors, II was not often that
such pretty girl as this invaded his
Office His surliness vanished instant
ly He could be charming to ladies'
when he chose. This WAS pne of these
occasions. Accordingly, he set chair
Tor the visitor aud returned her tinid
greeting With gelialily calculated
10 dispel her very obvious NERVOUSNESS
Ii was u young but sad and troubled
face that looked at him across the
desk. The soft, fair hair might have
adorned the sunny head of a 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.
Il have a letter from Mr.. Baird, the
editor-I don't know If you are he
asking me to call at 3 today" said the
girl.
Il am the editor, certainly, but /
can't recollect writing to oMiss-Chester.
In fact. expect some one else at this
hour"
MIR. Claude Hellingham. perhapsT
Yes. Do you know him, them" ask
ed the man eagerly.
"Oh, yes, | think may say do, a
little" she replied, smiling again. "ln
tact, III am the individual himself!'
VI don't quite understand" returned
Baird wonderingly. "ls there such n
person at all. them"
"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.
Your he replied. you? What on
earth made you take such a pseudo
pymT he demanded wonderingly.
"Oh. because thought mans
name would give my story better
chance OF acceptance. But why did
you write to me?" she continued anx.
iously. Il was so glad 10 get your let
ter! ! thought yon had accepted the
tale You are going to publish II, aren't
your she added. all her smiles vanish
ing
No" said Baird. looking at her
steadily. Il 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 a deuced
awkward business, he told himself.
Il 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
tion. Before We go any further. how
ever, let me ask you one question pia
you send In that story, The Solitary
SOUL as original matters?
A pause ensued. The ticking or
clock ON the mantelpiece alone broke
the silence OF the room. The editor
watched the woman keenly. A sudden
spasm passed over her face ana a
hunted l0ak 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
N to make an appeal, and he saw that
EVEN her gloves were carefully mend
ed.
IF you would rather not answer. he
said gently and In very different tone
from that which he had Intended To
rdopt toward Mr.. Hellingham." you
need not do so. Only, think you must