Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-01-02
TK BLUE OK CONTEST
NJ .rz11Ax LEONARD.

I'd give q round hundred for an
ideAT willard Hess suddenly exclaim.
Cd. throwing . magaxine upon a tabl.
Fniea served m q writing desk and
caeeA al In his bohemian den. Then
-he Duahed his chair back. ran his hand
through his thin sandy hair and stared
az tha low. dinGy ceiling
What kind Of an Ides. old boyY' de-
@anded Burdett Brooks. a tall. siim
fetloW Of 30. with dark. dreamy eyes
eno en- smmense black mustache
Brooks moved his canvas more 10 the
Hight and stood. brush IN hand. waiting
for q reply.
IAN idea that would wiring about
1vtOO words from my empty pate" an
Swereo Hess. The Blue O1 Offers
cash prise OF 5000 for the mos, orig.
tnal story % 2,OO0 words received bc-
fore Sept l. Now. ali ] need II nm
original idea. and. presto. the prize is
Eninsi What % you say 70 going halves /?
1o1 fuSnisA the idea. and I'll DO the
story Hes Jumped TO his feet and
stood with his thumbs In the armboIes
oe biS vest He was a short man.
anaooth shaved, gray eyed and full OF
nervous energy. The lines In his face.
especially the deep set horiEonal ones
acToss the high forehead. told that he
eo0k life more seriously than did the
artist.
~oh- SO1t know" Brooks said.
with slight. indifferent drawL "T
~A0a't believe that quite See the drift
~ Vnur acAar,. Wyh.os- A.
beating around the bush. Hessf"
willard Hess changed his position.
He ran his right hand into his pocket
and Jingied q bunch OF keys. "You
have money" he remarked abruptly.
Some" admitted the artist. That
oeat little sum received for my last
painting IL not all gone
'AOaey VIII procure most anything
In this word" ccntir ued the other.
so they claim" assented Brooks.
Thsp why not an ideeY' Hess spoke
slowly. with = distinct pause between
@eh word II could advertise or-or
something OS that kind"
-It might work" Brooks said doubt
fully. "But the thing looks a bit risky.
Hess. II II failed. we'd either have 70
starve OF beg uniess that novel OF yours
nnds Z publisher before long"
Bot II shan't fail. Brooks" Hess
paced the door sxcitedly. Lend me a
Aundred." be entreated. ''I1l return Il
with half OF the eve thousand"
The artist stepped 20 the table and
wrote out q check for the amount
Take Il. old boz" he said. "Its my
ALI Wen sink or swim together"
We shan't sink" was the authors
hopeful remark a. be grasped bis
fr.snfs hand aud vrang X with un-
spoken gratitude. Then he donned his
hat ana coat and went out into the
open air TO think. to formulate some
plan b. which 70 buy an Idea.
H@ turned 10 the right and went
down the Iong street leading to the wa,
ter frOnt On and on he walked. his
pulse beating high. his brain la a tu-
mutt "a hundred dollars for an idear'
The words thundered In his ears until
he half fancied that he was shouting
them when he reached the wharf. he
sat down on 9 pile cf lumber and
watched the crowds Of people that
were A2ing out OF q steamer which had
1ust arrived from an As.atic port.
Among the last Of the passengers to
land was e ANAL woman dressed In
BLACK. q long. heavy mourning veil over
her face. She looked about inQusFinR-
IL. advanced q step OF two and then
pause6 heeitatinSiy. .~ss..,
IN an Instant willard Hess was on
his feet Though he had mingled little
with women. saye in. the world OF nc-
ton. there was q etrong undercurrent
efagsilsnsry n. hss nature. Going quick
" esHard the little woman fa black. be
haSA: ...s.''.
,,'Kxense me. madam. but may rsr.
Ger yeU any assiStanceY' s
4 Che pashed the song Veil asiSie. dis
closing reune. almost childiike face
As6 pair et LIQUID brown eyes. IT
yau'u Be 70 kind" aha. snswered Ia
lew. mpsicai eones- az wIsh to 20 TO
sAe Depot where can take the over
iAnd tsstn Cor the east"
k~Pernlt me e accompany you" the
author said. taking her small grip and
Isadins the way.
A Scw nurmurea Thank your was
her sAiy resDones. She replaced the
long veil and followed the man 10 ri.
iencs,
i. Ths train was aincst ready to leave
- the two reached the platform w.
lard hurrfediy seated hss charge ip the
esrand turned 70 20
"rou may s,t here" said sweet
voice. and the little woman In black
notsoned 10 the seat &C her side
The man hesitated and turned red.
He opened his mouth % explain that
Ne was not going east. but his tongue
seemed thick. and his iips refused 20
frame the werds- Some strange. IRE.
sissibie power h<ld him metienlese aud
cpeechiess The whistse blew. the con-