The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-02-15
A CULPRIT CORNERED.


new book which had been launched
upon the sea OF literature with such
signal success. The critics had, with
few exceptions. spoken OF "The Maze
of Life" by Halifax Flanders, as n
work Of genius. Edition after edition
had been issued, and still the book
sellers clamored copstantly for more.
The book was discussed by all classes,
by the mechanic as well as by the
professional man. learned men and
women, and one and all Joined In vol
luminous praise OF the man who had
written H.
But who was Halifax Flanders? No
one seemed 10 know. Paragraphs were
appearing In the papers daily setting
forth In one quarter that the author
was lady OF the best society, and in
another that Halifax Flanders" was
the nom de plume OF n man OF letters
already famous under his own name
The publishers would give no infOrma.
tion beyond stating that the author
desired his identity to remain un.
! known.
And what OF French? He had in
tended 10 change the title. but some
fatal influence compelled him TO retain
the original name. Halifax Fland-
ers" he regarded as cleverly con
ceived nom de plume-a name tha,
would attract by reason OF its uncom-
mon sound.
| But If he had been unsettled before
the book appeared, his agony was ten
! fold worse now. As the sale OF the
book increased by lenps and bounds.
his fears or exposure rose accordingly.
Don't under any consideration di.
vulgc my real name" he had said 10
the publishers; but daily he expected
the author to come forward and hold
| him up as n thief and fraud
One evening he was sitting in his
room when his landlady tapped at the
door.
He started up guiltily.
what is IT." he shouted, n nervous
| apprehension seizing him
The landlady entered. closely fol
lowed by young woman In walking
costume.
"If you please, sir" blurted out the
former. this young woman called to
see you, and although | told her yOu
wasn't going 10 see anybody, she
would follow me up the stairs, saying
IL was very important business" and
she surveyed the visitor with an eye Of
disgust.
Herbert French rose from his chair
TITS all right. Mrs. Coomber," he
said: 'you may 60"
won't you be scated?' he asked the
young woman. when they were alone.
Thank YOU" was the answer, I'm
pretty feminine voice. I've come from
the Bulletin to interview you, If you
will allow me"
The man turned pale
How did you obtain my address,"
he asked, with quiver in his tone.
II will tell you later on" responded
the interviewer. You are Mr.. Hall
fax Flanders, aren't you?"
II am" came the strained reply.
But that is not your real namc-is
il, now" Queried the young woman,
isn't IL Herbert Frcnch?"
Herbert French! How do you
know
81 got II from the same source
whence | obtained your address | got
il from Miss Jennings typcwritng
agency, in Nassau street. An! see
you recollcct." The answer we given
in B.. taunting manne: that stung
French to the quick.
What is IL you want?" he raved
"Who are you? What do you want of
me-
Pray calm yourself. my dear sir"
interrupted the other. III you will
resume your seat, will tell you what
| want with you. Come now, sit down"
Like n child he oheyed. There was
something in the keen eye of his visi.
tor that forced obedience.
Now. Mr. French, l will tell vow
who | am. My name is Nellie Searle--
I name which | suppose you don't
know. 1t is |. and not you. who wrote
The Maze of Life now SO famous.
| Don't interrupt" rs French began
! speaking; listen to me first. | wrote
that story-wrotc when | was nearly
starving. Not friend had in the
whole world-not one. Night afte~
/ night, after | had toiled uselessly
| through the streets looking for work.
have sat in my room writing FOE
dear life. every word / wrote being
! like n drop OF my own lifc's blood ooz.
| ing away. Then at last finished IL:
| was almost destitute then. You
know the rest OF my story. Don't lie.
man! What's the use? Somehow 1
/ left my manuscript in the street car.
when | was taking II TO the publishers
one Of those things one does through
! trying too much TO be extremely care
+ ful. You forrd it-liar. you must have
! dom so-and you kept IL. l applied
4 TO the office OF the car company. |
searched the newspapers. expecting
/ to discover that some honest man had
found and advertised 81: but IL never
came back to me. Gradually | gave
up hope. and then saw the book for
sale with Halifax Flanders on IL as
the author. knew then how had
been cruelty robbed. had obtained =
situation on the Bulletin in the mean.
| time"
but how did you discover meT'
jerked out the cringing man.
Eyes. you may well ask. Yesterday
ran across a friend whom | had lost
sight Of years ago. She had set up n
typewritinc agency-yes. Miss Jerning.
you know her-and from her I gath
cred who II was that had robbed me