Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-02-18

But, put in the girl triumphantly
"she remsmb, red him! WHAT do you
think of that?"
Il think it does her great credit" re-
piled the author, efficiently. "Ano
So"
And so. in her hour of need. the
girl"
Excuse me. but what was she in
need OFF"
"Oh, that doesn't matter. We can
settle all minor details after the story is
written. AS | was saying, in her hour
of need she bethousht her of her old
friend"
Yes. Her old school friend. l see."
NO, no! The man. But on her way
to him she met the mans sister-in-law
the cousin of the school friend-and
she told her that her school friend was
deadi"
Dear, dear!" said the author. And
that decided her TO return home to her
husband. Of course?"
Really" exclaimed the girl, 81 think
you have a very poor IDEA of plots. con-
sidering you write stories yourself"
Occasionally" admitted the author.
But I'm sure | beg your parGon if
anticipated your climax. What did she
do, then?"
Why" said the girl, she put herself
in her school friends place."
Great heavens!" cried the author.
DO you mean in the cofin?"
"Of course not! | mean she assumed
her dead friends name and-and per-
sonality, l think you call it-and pre-
tended she was her.
She" suggested the author. with
the connivance of the cousin?"
mo. She told the cousin nothing
about it She left the omnibus and
drove straight to the mans house in a
cab and rang the bell and walked in.
The man was standing on the hearth
rug alone in the room and she ran up
to him-remember, she hadn't seen him
for ten years-and. with wild gesture
exclaimed: Save mel"
Yes" observed the author. you have
hit upon a strong dramatic situation
there. What does the man say,
thought"
The man replies: L will proclaim
your innocence with my last L~eath!
VI SCAhS'hAAASo VI NhUt SUN, anu SllS Adlls
into his arms. After soothing her for
a few moments he inquiries who she is.
She tells him she is her dead friend.
his sister-in-law cousin, but the man
replies that there must be some mis-
take, as he has no sister-ip-law. The
girl fixes her eyes upon his face intent
ly for several minutes before remark
ing: Then you are not James De Vere?
The man answers: No; my name is
JONES' and the girl discovers that she
has come to the wrong house."
"Ah! That, too. is a fine situation"
murmured the author, for the girl"
Yes, l DO not think it is bad. But
the strange part is that Jones and De
We're are both members of a club where
ladies can be taken as guests, you know
there are such clubs in London, aren't
there?"
'Oh. yes. several" said the author.
so Jones offers 20 conduct the girl
to this club ana hand her over TO De
We're, and they drive off together
Meantime the girls husband has dis
covered her Hight and starts in pursuit.
Having heard her once mention the
name of her dead school friends cousin.
he first seeks out this LADY and from her
learns that his vile and she met that
very morning in ar omnibus. This re-
assures him and he goes home to dinner.
Jones and the girl reach the club and
Jones finds De We're taking afternoon tea
with-whom do you think?"
Il am at a loss TO conjecture" said
the author, permitting his eyes to dwell
dreamlly on the girls flushed face.
why, with the school friendi" ex-
claimed the girl, clapping her hands
THE school friend?"
Yes. She wasn't dead after all. 1t
turned out to be merely a malicious
and unfounded report. On the contrary,
she was engaged TO be married TO De
We're"
"Ah! LUCKY De We're. And is that
alp"
No. That concludes the first half of
the story. The rest is principally ex-
plantations. | want TO know how it ought
to be written" said the girl.
ITS TOO exciting for me to give an
opinion straight off" rejoined the au-
thor. You say the girl knew the man
tor ten years?"
yes"
But the man didn't know the girl?"
mo"
1T was his loss," murmured the au-
thor. Pray. how long have you known
me?"
'Oh, ever since | was 15-or there
abouts," answered the girl. examining
the pattern of the authors carpet.
And it seems only within the last half
hour that have known you!" calculated
the author. rising from his chair.
What on earth DO you mean?" de-
manded the girl.
Il mean" said the author. that we
will write your story together, if you
will, but on one condition"
And what is the condition."
That, unlike the Girl in the story, YOU
will promise never. never to run away
from me-not even for a lark"
All" said the girl
And
All" said the author, putting his
arm round the girls waist. but love