The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-05-20
Van VaIkenberg
in Literature o o
By HAYDEN cARRUrla

NOUNG Mr.. Schermerhorn Van Walk
enberg's attention was first attract
ed to literature when a melancholy
young novelist superseded him in the
esteem of a certain lady. Young Mr..
Van Valkenberg survived the defec-
tion of the lady, but 1t set him to think
ing.
"A fellow doesn't seem to be worth
30 cents nowadays" he observed to
his friend, Fitzmorris, unless he
writes"
Going to try it," asked Fitz.
Not much. l can't. What, do you
think I'm going to sit up nights and
grind out things and have these beastly
editors send them back with one of
those printed slips saying how good the
story is, but how awfully sorry they
are that they can't print it? Well,
hardly"
BY which Fitz knew that Van Walk
enberg had tried it, or how did he know
about the beautiful slips? But Fitz
kept still; he was sort of pension
err on Van Valkenberg, and had learned
discretion.
mo-" continued the other 81 know a
a better way than that. is the name
of writing that Commissioning it doesn't
matter. Something like What's-his-
name-that fellow in What-do-you-call-
him's book-who said that 1t isn't heat
but the appearance of heat that you're
after"
Going to hire some clever chap to
do your writing?"
mo; though thought Of that at
first. Clever chap would build me up
nice reputation, and then blackmail
me for the rest of my life. know
these clever chaps. No; my plan is
this: I'll 60 around to two or three
of the leading magazine offices, and
just exchange checks with the cashiers,
and then, you know, 1t might happen
that some folks would just chance to
see the checks got and. that would be
pretty good proof that was writing
for the magazines, wouldn't it,"
BEST in the world, I should say" re-
turned Fitz. But aren't you going to
have trouble in getting the cashiers to
make the exchange?"
''Oh, I'll fix that-somehow," an
swered Van valkenberg cheerfully. "You
just lie low and don't say word about
1t and you'll see."
Young Mr.. Van Valkenberg found II
rather more difficult to carry out his
plan than he had expected. But through
a slight acquaintance with clerk in
one office, and with a substantial bride
to an assistant in another, he managed
to get hold Of two checks. The cashier
of third leading publisher remained
impregnable to frontal attack, so the
ingenious Van valkenberg executed a
flank movement by arranging with the
advertising department, for a certain
amount of space, sending his check in
too much, and appearing an hour later
to apologize for the mistake, saying
that he had carelessly left his check
book at home, and so could not draw
another check for the correct amount
SO wouldn't they please give him the
firms check for the difference, which
the obliging advertising manager did
and the young man with the desire for
the appearance Of authorship departed
happy.
The next day at the club young Mr.
Van valkenberg took some letters from
his pocket, and a little slip Of paper
fiutetred to the floor, quite by chance
The friend with whom he was dining
picked It up and caught the name Of thu
publishing firm as he did SO.
Hello, YAM" he commented, as ht
returned 1t; '.got a job with these PEG
plef"
"Oh, no." answered Van valkenberg
slightly embarrassed; mo, not a toi
exactly. II you'll keep 1t quiet, though
I don't mind telling you that I'm goini
in for writing . little, just to pass ava,
the time, you know. That's for littl'
story threw on the other evening"
"You don't say so! I didn't thinl
you had 1t in you," said the other
frankly.
"Oh, dt's nothing Easiest thing Il
the world. BY the way, here are I
couple Of others--I've felt that oush
not to confine my work to one maya
zine, you know. No more than right t
give 'em all chance"
"Certainly--be fair to them all. Van,
said the friend, evidently much I'm
pressed. II suppose the next thing W
know you'll have out book"
"Oh, time enough for that--tim