The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1901-01-03

lhsi be could not feel ansr
Mo ID little woman wb
wss the cause OF oil the trouble, Bt
what could she mean by insisting on b
ascom psnying hefS Was she 40 sdve
tufess, 40 escaped iunstio OF 40 ionocet
little stnpidi He gave . cautious, sid
long glance Ut the mysterious cresturt
Surely she looked neither bold OF DANCE
ous ss she sat there, her white, plum
hands clssped in her lap He could no
see the expression on her lace, bat tb
thick coil OF yellow hair visible thronsl
the heavy veil did rot impress him witt
the thought that she was stupid. Whs
then?
Presently the woman opened her griI
snd took out several magazines. Do yo'
care TO resd2 she asked, { Il sripg him one
the cover OF wbioh was strangely familiar
II was the June issue Of The Blue OK.
Thank you'll he snswered, with . self
conscious cir ss be recognized the book
He turned to the prizs ofisr snd read i
through, regardless OF the fact that bt
knew it by heart, word by word. As ht
sat thus. like . fl,sh Of light 10 the dark
ness a thought came to him thai made bis
heart leap for JOY. ! have 1.-THE idea
be cried to himself. Title OF story, Kid
mapped by Woman He pressed his
hand agsiast the outside OF his cost to see
il bis notebook wss in bis breast pocket,
Yes, il was there and bis rencll too. Ex
cusipg himself to the little woman 10
black, who sat quite absorbed 10 reading.
be laid The Blue OK in bis seat and be
took himself TO the smoking Car.
Tue mood was on. His thoughts came
thick and fact. and bis fingers fairly
danced over the white sheets Of paper.
He felt that the s ory was going TO be the
best thing that be had ever written. Sac
GEES seemed certain. His hopes went up
to the highest notch. He could feel the
crisp S5. 900 note 10 bis fingers. He saw
bis name 10 large type on the cover OF The
Blue OK, No more 10 cent meals and
bare clothes for him or Brooks.
While The train stopped st the station
Tor supper be sent the following telegram
10 the artist:
Safe on board Train for New York.
Have found idea. Shall return soon.
Then be went back and seated himself
BY the little woman 10 black. Hs felt and
acted like new man. He actually besm
ID wi joy. He experienced q wild de
'irs to embrace bis kidnspper the little
woman who had given him the idea. he
grew laxative, confidential. mirtbinl.
ae was tempted TO tell her about his story,
,ut be didn't. He compromised by tell
ng her about himself. And the little
woman listened and smiled, but she told
lin nothing not even her name.
As the train nearod New York willard
Hess began to wonder vaguely what bis
iidnspptr was going to do with him Oh
heir arrival in that city. For the suc
ess OF bis story be wanted her TO do come
hing extraordinarily unusual. He was
Wiling and snxious TO do exactly as sbe
ON msnded him that IL. without risk
ng his liie Even marriage wond be con
idered III she insisted. Since the first
10y Of their journey be had beeo her de
oted sl,ve. They bad b come good
riends, after a fashion But che still re
,sined . mystery TO him.
Msy lronbIe you to hand this note TO
messenger boy2 said the little woman 10
lack Just ss the train drew into the
,etropolis. II Is very important that il
e delivered at once.
No trouble Of ell. said Willard, taking
BE- note and pushing and crowding bis
'sy through The passengers 10 his baste
D comply With ber requ II When be re
lrned to the car few moments later. the
tile womsn 10 black wss missing. Her
rip, too, bad vanished She had no
oubtediy plsnnet to givs him the slip.
PerpleI ed and cbsgrined. Willard Hess
urchssed q ticket tD the coast, snd
few hours later was rapidly speeding
estwsfd.
| don't see what the deuoe the woman
snted With you, Brooks cried 10 disgust
hen Willsrd feisted The facts OF bis
nique journey. lhink you must have
cen sli,tle Of in the upper story to let
oman like that kidnsp you. Was she 8 I
idos1
Don't know, answered Willard. Bat.
,spsibe the subjscl 9 little. Brooks. |
II 700 that story OF mine 10 going 10 be
viurfr.
hope so, said the sr,i.t II it isn't,
a boy, our name is Dennis. (
The weeks Of sbIioos ssiiipg had allow
dragged by ]. wss the latter part OF
.ptember. The Blue Or contest had 4
osed. The piiz, bad been dnly svsrded. {
ID escb contestant bad nceiusd The
,inied sunouateDsni sisiug the nsme Of ,
Ie lncky suibor aud tbe title Of the win 8
ne siory. J
One OF tbese spnouremrris 10y OF the {
bic 10 The Btrotf-Hess Bobsuisn den /
'illsrd he. %, sisrirg st IL 10 cnrb {
spsir. . hsrd. dssn lock 10 bic face.
sice be read lhe cruel vord.s
Mp. Earice 9. Dfessssood OF ssv :
urk city b. been sssrded the q. 900 I
~. ior the mos, orisinsI short story Of {
600 words. The Mao ! kidnspped IT, I