The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1901-03-28
The story ended abruptly.

heaven to reach her, replied the doc-
tor.
The story ended abruptly.
Mansfield turned the page.
where's the rest of it?" he asked
of the WATERMAN with the red face
and yellow mustache.
There isn't any rest" answered
the writer-man.
"But it hasn't any ending to it,"
at has a very logical ending"
But you didn't give that brute,
Hamilton, a chance to do anything for
the girl-to make amends"
There wouldn't be any moral to it
if l did" replied Webb.
"And I'm afraid the readers would
be dissatisfied with the way it ends"
continued Mansfield.
After a pause the WATERMAN said;
"What are you going to do with it?'
'I'll give you hundred dollars for
it, but l shant publish it the way 1t
ends-or rather, doesn't end"
"What good is it to you, them"
The editor put his hand affectiOnate-
" on the writer-man's arm:
MY dear boy, you have saved me
from doing a mean thing, low down
mean thing. l couldn't find it in my
heart now to use the Jencks girls
story in the way l intended. Just
think, it might have broken her heart
Thank heavens, man, you have saved
her and me-
He pressed a button.
"Ask the cashier to make a check
for Mr.. Webb for $780," he said to the
boy who appeared in response to the
summons. When the check was
brought in Webb folded it carefully
and put it in his pocket.
Come to lunch with me-" he said.
The brilliant editor rose and put on
his hat. At that moment the boy APP
peared with card. The editor read
it:
Serena Jencks. Galveston"
He handed the card to the writer
man, then turned to the boy
"Show the lady in. Stay where you
are, Webb Then he added: "a good
chance to see the girl"
Webb chuckled.
A tall slender girl appeared. She
had large brown eyes and red lips.
Her hands were not small. but were
well gloved, and she dressed in good
style-not New York style. She held
out her hand freely to the editor. and
he shook it heartily and then present
ed Webb.
q am just off the steamer" ex-
claimed Miss Jencks in an ELUSIVE way,
"and the first thing l did was to call
to learn the fate of my story"
There was a freshness and innocence
about the young woman that amused
the editor. After a few minutes gen
eral conversation, she said
"Now tell me all about my story
are you going to print it?''
The editor blushed. reflected a min
ute, then said:
at is an amusing story, but, to be
candid, it is hardly up to our stand
ard
On other words" she interrupted,
sit isn't good enough
"Wen, if you like to put it that way
yes"
Miss Jencks leaned both of her
dainty elbows on the table, and looked
the editor straight in the eyes fof
moment.
well, then, is it bad enough?"
The editor and writer-man eXchang-
ed quick and significant glances. Here
was an opportunity the Harvard man
had not looked for.
81 don't know. Perhaps if | were
to put our friend, Webb here. to re-
wise it, he might make it bad enough"
She laughed.
'Well, then, what will you pay me if
l let you publish it as an awful exam
ple?'
lone hundred dollars
Its yours
But even though we publish the
story with a pen name, will not some
of your friends recognize it and so
cause you modification
Miss Jencks chuckled sweetly. you
don't suppose l was fool enough to let
any of my friends know l wrote love
story, do you?"
The WATERMAN and the editor look
ed at each other calmly.-New York