The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-11-23
When the Plot
Thickened.

less skilled tnan an expert That feat
accomplished, he wrote to Mrs. Nc
Keeyer.
My dear Luella," he said. 81 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 man whom think remarkably
we'll 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 creditable 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 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 comforting
a favor upon me personally. Aside
from his attributes as an all-round
good fellow, Dudley is so well equipped
mentally that 1 feel sure he would
give excellent satisfaction and hope
you can strike bargain with him. Let
me know at 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.
IF she should ever find out that am
the author of the panegyrlc she will
certainly think me too effervescent to
write 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 ont Of town for a day or two.
but that Dudley was to stick 10 their
bargain and continue TO answer his
share of their mail, as usual. There
! was very little to answer, but it made
up in quality what it lacked in guam
tity, for Thursday morning brought an
other letter from Mrs. McKeever.
Il was somewhat surprised at your
choice of literary executor" she wrote
Il knew Clarence Dudley several years
ago, and have rather pleasant recoIlec-
| tons of him, but l had hardly thought
that his literary qualifications are ex-
actly what | require. sim, you seem
to be in 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 you
| should have mentioned it in my last
letter, but shrank from doing so. But
it 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 N.Y.
| 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 a jealous or
a selfish man. and he realized that I.
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
| Q. literary agreement with any author
lS1nust come to an understanding with
him in regard 20 that clause in the
Generals will. You Will see, my dear
4 Horny without
that my position is most awkward. By
the Generals commands I am bound
TO see that the book is put on the mar
ket, yet am unable to finish it myself,
| and am constrained to seek help etly
! from some man at whose head | am
virtually bound to throw myself in
marriage. For PHYS sake, Henry, help
me over this difficulty. Explain the sit
uation to Mr.. Dudley as deIicately as
you know how. think it much better
that you, rather than I, should breach
the subject. Then, il 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.
1 must say that his remembrance of
You seems to be exceedingly vivid, and
| he is anxious TO meet you again. Not
outstanding your frank criticism of
his work. 1 still think him the very
man for the place, and if agreeable to
you he will call on you Saturday after
uoon at 8. .4----.--....-o-- HENRY"