Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
8 3 q & e = q = q = = = 3 q
: : The Bubble Reputation !:
g y - - n R q u
q xAA By Martha McCu1loch Williams !,
q 5. ;: copyngh. 1900 by Meeunoch Williams
= 8: :, = = = = Z Z Z = = = 8,
(CONTINUED.l

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[CoNTINUED.l
The rest was like dream to her un-
til she was safe upon the L train,
her purse bulging with notes and gold
pieces. Then it occurred to her to
break the seals of the three letters she
had found in waiting. When she had
read them, she had much ado to keep
from her old tomboy's trick Of whis-
Ting aloud. But she did refrain, and
when the train had got partly up town
she left it and betook herself to the
offices Of McCullOm-McCullom, who
had helped her around SO many hard
corners.
Once she had defined McCullom to
her father US ian etheric vibration in
business suit" He had compelling
Jaw, q hay colored mustache and blue
eyes as kindly as they were keen. Mel
ther mortal nor mugwump had ever
seen him completely quiescent. 1t was
popularity believed, indeed, that he
slept with one ear open to hear the
faintest murmur of an editor and the
other yet more keenly attent to catch
the name of the newest literary idol.
Come in, Miss Thornley,. Began to
think YOU were dead-that you had
drowned yourself In sheer envy be-
cause you are not John Desmond" he
called, looking up from bunch OF
clippings over which he was poring.
Lord, but that fellow has got there
with both feet! Who is he, anyway!
Enclish-I'n bet fourpence on that.
We don't have his sort this side the
herring pond"
Between every word he had been ap-
parently reading a paragraph. Now
he tossed the clippings to Cornelia,
saying with the kindest accent: "Why
don't you Americans give us something
a little approaching that fellow? If
only you could-well you'd make your
everlasting fortune-mine too.'
Not if you paid us the same rate
YOU have offered him." Cornelia said
with dancing eyes. McCullom, who
had risen and walked the room S
length, sprang back at least foot
crying:
"How do you know? You must
know him. Say, Miss Thornley,, If
you'll get me an interview before the
rest can find him out you shall have q
years engagement right straight
through"
THANK you for nothing. am above
bribes. Now l have no need of them"
Cornelia said merriiy, shaking her full
purse in his face. McCullom eyed 1t
critically.
"If that was my wife's, I'd say. Sam
ples,'" he retorted, "but you-it must
be money, unless it is manuscript"
1.-THE terms are interchangeable, ac
cording to McCullom," Cornelia said
thrusting a letter in his eyes. "They
gave me that Just now at Fyfers." she
vent on. ut is addressed to John Des
mond. but they appeared to think had
a right to it."
For the first time within recorded
knowledge McCullom was speechless
full half minute. yet he caught both
Cornelia's hands and wrung them hard
and heartily. then as his voice came
back he shouted to his stenographer:
"Miss Bliss! | say, Miss Bliss! Take
this letter to our subscribers and see
that 1t goes at once:
Dear Sir-l am happy to announce on behalf
| Of The Literary Press that there will appear in
| tla In tas
six short stories by John Desmond, the famous
new novelist"
"Oh. thank you" Cornelia said with
her best courtesy. Excuse the inter-
ruption. but you have only five Of my
stories In hand. However, can send
you another-one that was not good
enough for The Blush Of Innocence-if
you will take it."
"Take It! I'll take whatever you'll
let me have. So will those Blush
idlots-when they find out who you
are" McCullom said with an elevation
of his thin, flexible nostrils. Cornelia
laughed softly.
Maybe you are right" she said. "At
any rate, Quiller himself"-Quiller was
The Blush's chief editor-"has written
to John Desmond praising the
strength. delicacy and originality Of
his work-its deep inner and spiritual
significance'-and asking to be favor
ed with contributions, Of whatever
sort and sizes it may please John
Desmond to send. OF course | can't
let him have back the thing he has
Just returned. but how If exchanged
with you for the story of mine you
care least aboutY
McCullom gave her a reproachful
look. "As If you didn't know that all
your stories are uperlative-now" be
said. mo, no. Miss Thornley,! You
cannot get back line from us. The
Blush may wait until you choose to
write something especially for 1t. but
hope you won't do 1t. want to con-
troll your work exclusively"
Cornelia shook her head. Her smile
this time was an obstinate one. Nc
Cullom whistled two notes Of a popu-
lar air. each decidedly out Of key; then
burst out: "Of course we'll pay what
those stories are worth. You don't
doubt that, hope"
"You will pay the exact rate they
were worth when I brought them TO
you." Cornella said. rising to go; then
over her shoulder as she went through
the door: 81 am not SO young as
might be. Still think shall live
long enough to get out Of you full
value for the bubble reputation"
McCullom looked after her. whistling
more crankily than ever. He had put
On his hat to go out Suddenly he
lifted It and said to the man at the
next desk:
"Confound It! We've been employ.
Ing genius unawares. and now she Is
showing me that those impossible high
toned people she Is so fond Of putting
In her stories are not impossible after
all. Come to think of it. that letter
had best go as a dispatch and add that
the authors name is Miss Cornelia
Vance Thornley,. Be sure to say, too,
subscribers must publish 1t In big type
In next Sundays papers. 1t Is piece
of news worth prlnting-a clear Lit.
1 erary scoop on the literary papers