Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1904-01-16

my literary as we'll as my financial
adviser" said she.
| 1T will no doubt appear quite an
undertaking to you,' continued Quincy,
but shall be very glad to help you.
My plan is to secure a lady who reads
well and can write good hand to as
sist you. Besides this, she must un-
derstand correcting proof sheets.
think Leopold could easily find such a
person for you. Then, again, you
know what DR.. Tillotson said about
your taking exercise and fresh air.
The second feature of my plan, and the
most important in my mind, is to find
some quiet place in the country, or at
the beach, where you and your aman-
uensis can both work and play. | can
buy for you such books as you need,
and you can finish the work this sum
mer."
Alice reflected. After few mo-
ments pause she said, Il like the plan
and | thank you very much for speak
ing OF 1t; but l prefer the beach.
love the plash and roar and boom of
the water. and it will be constant
inspiration to me. How soon can
go?' she asked, with look upon her
face that a young child might have
had in speaking to its father.
This was Alice Pettengill's great
charm. She was honest and disingen-
uous, and was always ready to think
that what others deemed it best for
her to do was really so. Imitation
may be the sincerest f1attery, but ap-
probation of the advice and counsel
of others, combined with gratitude for
the friendly spirit that prompts it,
makes and holds more friends.
Quincy looked at his watch
II can get the afternoon train, |
think" said he. II will see Leopold,
and then run up and make Aunt Ella
a call. She knows the New England
coast from Eastport to Newport. Did
she speak to you at the wedding?"
Some lady with very pleasant
voice asked me if l were Miss Petten-
gill, while we were in the church" re-
piled Alice. Il said yes, and then she
told me that her name was Chessman,
adding the information that she was
your aunt. and that you could tell me
all about her"
81 shall be happy to-" said Quincy;
but can assure you it would be much
more enjoyable for you to hear it from
herself. l hope you will have that
pleasure some day." And again adopt
ing bantering tone, 81 trust, fair
lady, shall not return this time from
a bootless errand."
Alice listened again, as she had Of
ten done, until she heard the sound of
departing wheels, and then she fell to
wondering whether her future paths
in life would continue to be marked
out by this Sir Knight, who was ever
at her beck and call, and whether it
was her destiny to always tread the
paths that he laid out for her.
Quincy was fortunate in finding Leo
pold at home.
I'm glad you've come, Quincy" said
he; 81 was going to write you tonight"
What's up?" inquired Quincy.
Please pass me that package of
papers on the corner of the table," an.
swered Leopold. being loath to rise
from his reclrnbent position on the
lounge
Quincy did as requested and took a
seat beside leopold.
''These," said Leopold, "are the
proofs of the first writings of to-be
famous American author. Glad she
took mans name, so l don't have to
say authoress. Here" he continued,
"are the proofs of the story, Was it
Signed? Cooper wishes it read and re-
turned Immediately. Editors wish
everything done Immediately. They
loaf on their end and expect the poor
author to sit up all night and make up
for their shortcomings. I'm a sort of
editor myself, and | know what I'm
AL oL~ 1o& L,
ued, will appear in The Sunday Uni
verse week from next Sunday.
had copy made for jameson to work
from. Bruce Douglas owes me four
fifty for expenses, necessary but not
authorized"
81 will see that you are reimbursed"
said Quincy; want it now?" and he
made motion to take out his pocket
book.
"No," replied Leopold, 'I'm flush to-
day; keep it till some time when I'm
strapped. Last, and most important
of all, here are the proofs of the story
that is to appear in our monthly Now,
my advice to you is. Quincy, seek the
fair author at once, correct these
proofs and have them back to me
within three days, or they'll go over
and she'll be charged for keeping the
type standing, besides having her pay
hung up for another week."
"She won't mind that said Quincy,
with laugh. She's an heiress now,
with real and personal property valued
at $50,O0O. But what am to do?"
asked he seriously. 81 could read the
manuscript. but we. have no one at
Eastborough who knows how to make
those pothooks and scratches that you
call corrections
well, you two young aspirants for
literary fame are in a box, aren't you?
l was thinking about that $50,000 Per-
haps I'd better go home with you and
get acquainted with the author" said
Leopold with laugh.
well" returned Quincy, sit would
be very kind of you in our present
emergency. but. strange as it may
seem, came to see you this afternoon
about securing literary assistant for
Miss Pettengill, She, has decided to
write that book"
Good girl" cried Leopold, sitting
bolt upright upon the lounge. II
mean, good boy, for it was. no doubt,
your acknowledged powers of argu-
ment and gently persuasive ways that
have secured this conSummation of nv