Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-02-22
!; TRAPPED BY A NOVEL
0 o-e-o-@-0-eo-e-e-eee-s-e

il at NY ttNN''
"Show him up, Mrs. Jennings" ! re-
plicd without glancing up from my
manuscript.
4 few moments later Mr.. Portman,
an entire stranger TO me, was ushercd
into my room. He came forward n
man of large build. some 40 years Of
age. with a slight stoop and, fixing a
pair OF dreamy dark eyes upon me, he
inquired in a low, earnest tone:
Mr.. Cecil Lawrence, believes"
Yes. BE seated a moment, will
youT' replied, indicating chair.
lie 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, MINI.
Portman?" | asked presently, putting
down my pen and turning round upon
my visitor,
Won are Mr.. Cecil Lawrence, the
author, are you notT' he returned.
Yes"
"Tbe author of y Romance In Blue
Dyc?"
Yes
'Do you mind telling me how you
cane by the plot for that storyF' lie
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
~ have some important business with
me / really
Il have important business with
YOU" he exclaimed almost ancrily
do You fancy that | have come down
all the way from Lancashire to ask a
mere slip of an author his methods Of
work.
prom LancashireT | said in sur
prise. Indeed, no; no sane man would.
But please state your business"
"Wjll you answer my question: he
cried, rising inpatiently and folding
his hands behind his back. How did
you come by the facts in your storyT
"Siuce 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 q newspaper paragraph | CHANGED
upon some Is months ago"
can y3u show me this paragraph
"ReallyE unless you can tell me in
what way this matter is of so much
Importance to you, | fear | must de
cline to continue this interview for, as
ingly busy"
lie looked at me steadily for mo-
mcut in silence. and the light came in
TO his eyes again.
My name is portman-John Port
man Of Portman & Stayle, dyers and
cleaners, R0chdale" he said in pecul-
lar tone | could not understand. do
you UNDERESTIMATE
NO. | may he 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 aud his tone.
'lou don't, eh?" he burted out
We'll Stayle my late partner, was
the man who was found in the vat OF
dye. You are picturesque liar, you
know
! stawod-not at the fellows insult,
bHl at the germ Of an idea that was
aaWnug Uu0u me This man, then
"aH the actual being whom | had Gre
a'ed. as | thought, in the person Of
James Saxon the murderer Of his part
Poe. fully understood now how
greatly this man. whose actual exist
,a,a ] mad never suspected, must have
o'.H annoyed 10y my book. for doubt
'.,s persons who had read it and knew
0' ."n manner In which my visitors
IHuate partner had met his death
a.. commented upon the matter IN
pleasantly TO my visitor
p" YOU understand me noWF my
....... demanded seeing ! was neg pre-
l... 10 say anything about Ills reyi-
n ...eh.
i.. fear So" | replied ick-
.n ~Eut If you have e here
.ae Intention Of bullyi ne you
...." an error In the addrr " So
iessrs Wright & y ht Ely
are The people to call
B.. looked az me and frowI Then
asa JAc room, locke, door
..itle key in his poke
t 'a. deuce do you M
iaH..1g up Indignant 'Tou
mag uupardonably place
auI unlock the do nd !
er % him as ] spoke.
HaE gently, my good !" he
am not nearly sat with
yea Look at tbi I'D sit
tly
which he held in face,
revolver. Was l at the Grey Of
r.Huaae
aa az the wrong end Of it, you
t down and be civil
a9zed my shoulders and return
chair, having the unpleasant