The suburban citizen., 1902-11-08
When the Plot,
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less skilled than an expert. That feat
accomplished, he wrote to Mrs. Nc.
Keever.
MY dear Luella," he said. II am
very glad that you consulted me in re-
gard to a competent literary man to
finish editing the Generals papers, be.
cause it gives me a chance to recon-.
mend q man whom | think remarkably
well fitted for the post. Clarence Dud.
ley is the man l mean. You have no
doubt heard his name mentioned fire.
quently OF late. for he has been doing
some very crcdtable work. Dudley is
a particular friend Of mine. l have
known him intimately for many years,
and have always found him the right
sort, have never known a man whom
! have liked so well. He is, by all odds
the best friend l ever had, and il you
can see your way clear TO trusting him
with your book you will be conferring
a favor upon me personally. Aside
from his attributes as an all-round
good fellow, Dudley is so well equipped
mentally that l feel sure he would
give excellent satisfaction. and l hope
you can strike Il bargain with him. Let
me know ut once what you think of my
selection. If your decision is favorable
| will have Dudley call on you, and you
can settle the matter to suit yourselves
Yours, HENRY GRANT,
Dudley did not view this effusiou
with unalloyed pride.
1T is pretty fulsome praise to sing
at ones own funeral" he commented
III she should ever find out that l am
the author of the panegyric she wil
certainly think me too effervescentFt5
write a history of her deceased hus-
band, l must warn Henry to say
nothing about our compact. If he
should give me away my vanity would
certainly prove fatal"
Grant did not come up to their rooms
that night. He sent word that he
should be out Of town for a day or two
but that Dudley was to stick to their
bargain and continue to answer his
share of their mall as usual. There
was very little TO answer, but it made
up in quality what it lacked in quan.
tity, for Thursday morning brought an
other letter from Mrs. McKeeyer.
Il was somewhat surprised at your
choice Of literary executor" she wrote
Il knew Clarence Dudley several years
ago, and have rather pleasant recollec-
tions Of him, but l had hardly thought
that his literary qualifications are ex-
actly what | require. Still, you seem
TO be in n position to Judge him from
every standpoint, and l will gladly
grant him an interview. Before send.
ing him to me, however there is one
point that | must make clear to Won.
| should have mentioned it in my last
letter, but shrank from doing so. But
1t is too important to be put off longer.
1t relates to the commands Of General
Mckeever 1t was one of the provis-
ions OF his will that no one except my.
self or my second husband should write
a line of his biography. Naturally. he
preferred that / should do it without
assistance, but he was not Jealous or
selfish man, and he realized that |.
being young woman, should probably
marry again. If found the book too
great an undertaking to accomplish
alone, and decided to marry before its
completion, he expressly stipulated
that my husband should carry on the
work. So, you see before entering into
literary agreement with any author
| must come TO an understanding with
him In regard TO that clause in the
Generals will. You will see, my dear
Henry, without further explanation.
that my position is most awkward. By
the Generals commands l am bound
to see that the book is put on the mar.
ket yet am unable TO finish il myself
and am constrained TO seek help only
from some man at whose head | am
virtually bound 10 throw myself in
marriage. For PHYS sake. Henry, help
me over this difficulty. Explain the sit
uation to Mr.. Dudley as delicately as
you know how, / think it much better
that you, rather than /. should broach
the subject. Then. II he does not posi-.
lively revolt, let him come to see me.
Yours, LUELLA."
Dudley spent less than ten minutes
on his reply TO the second note
MY dear Luella," he said. Dudley
understands the situation thoroughly.
l must say that his remembrance of
you seems TO he exceedingly vivid, and
he is anxious to meet you again. Not.
withstanding your frank criticism of
his work, stll think him the very
man for the place, and II agreeable to
you EG will call on you Saturday after
neon at 3. HENRY"