The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-12

| sS~Sy sO PsO'S ny CAPStt tCctiiuOuy OIi
 style or diction or some other, distin- gushing peculiarity. that Mir. so-and-
 so was the only individual who could possibly be the author. The intense human interest main- tafned from start to finish vas pointe d out as absolute proof that the book was the work of a certain writer. famed for that sort of thing.
 These discussions only served to keep public interest in the book at fever heat. and the sales increased,
 rather than diminished. While the controversy still waged, reporter for The Daily Harpoon was assigned to report fire which had originated in the plant of the publish CTS of The Little Lady of the Tene- ment." While the reporter was yet block distant from the conf1agration, a piece of paper which had arisen with the smoke from the burning building and had been carried by the wind. dropped at his feet. Partly through curiosity and partly because of the in- nate instinct of his profession, the re- porter picked 1t up and put 1t in his pocket. An hour later, having a little leisure, he took the paper out of his pocket and spread 1t upon his desk in The Harpoon office.
 When he discovered that the docu. | ment was copy of the contract be- tween the publishing house and the au- thor of ''The Little Lady of the Tene-
 ment" he fairly jumped out of his chair in his astonishment A few mo- | ments later he was closeted with the city editor of his paper and was l with the Silent Man. That afternoon he knocked on the door of a rear room on the third floor | of a tenement. Receiving DO re- | sponse, he enquired of the landiady | where the occupant of the room could be found.
 Out at Greenwood, most likely" she | said. He spends the most of his time out there. sitting beside the grave
 of Old Simpsons daughter. who died | a year ago."
 To Greenwood the reporter went.
 and there he found the Silent Man. You are the author of The Little
 aLdy of the Tenement I believe" he | said.
 | The Silent man was plainly annoyed
 at the question, but finally replied T am the writer of the book; the | inspiration lies here, sir, under the sod"
 'It Is a wonderful work" said the | reporter. deferentially. If 1t is." replied the Silent Man.
 sadly, "it is only because the warm
 blood of my heart goes pulsing through | every sentence. Sir, it is the life story
 of the truest and best woman who ever
 lived-my little angel with the dreamy
 eyes of hope"
 "Why do you prefer to keep the au-
 thorship a secret?" ventured the re-
 porter. Tt will make you famous" | Because" replied the Silent Man
 'it Is the true story of her love. of | her devotion, of her sacrifices. To re-
 veal the authorship would make ma l famous, as you say, but 1t would also
 lost love. That would be a dishonor,
 sir. that no temptation would induce me to commit.
 When the reporter returned to his l office with his story, his veins tinglinE | with the realization of his scoop, he found the literary editor talking to the
 city editor.
 | And you say it was through q ca l lamity suffered by the publishers that
 the identity of the author of The Lit
 tie Lady of the Tenement was discov-
 ered?" asked the literary editor.
 Yes" replied the city editor. curtly
 Then" resumed the literary editor
 emphatically "I most decidedly protest
 against using the knowledge thus | gained. It would be a breach of honor
 of which The Harpoon should never
 be guilty"
 Tt is a bit of important news" re- i piled the city editor. Fate threw il
 into our hands and believe The liar.
 poon should profit by this stroke oi
 good luck"
 we will submit the matter to the
 managing editor" replied the literary
 editor, quietly, leaving the room.
 And the reporter. now exceedingly
 anxious over the fate of his exclusive
 story, asked the city editor:
 How do you think the old man will
 decide?"