The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1905-09-08
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A CASE OF
COLLABORATION
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,

medNauyely, with the tips of his
fingers pressed lightly together, aft
cr the manner OF Sherlock Holmes,
He was tall and thin, yet-which
seems strange in an author-elc-
gantly uttired. His face was clean
shaven and Of q classic, interesting
type-the forehead broad, the nose
straight, the eyes deep set and faith
omless, the mouth sensitivcly cut,
yet firm. The girl was inclined to
think him handsome. She knew he
was successful. She conceived him
to be clever. The last of the three
characteristics appealed to her the
least. The author in his profound
way was not thinking of the girls
story, but OF the girl. The girl, he
suspected, was interesting. The sto-
ry he was not SO sure of.
"Before writing story he said
after moments thoughtful pause,
"there are two things for the writer
to determine"
"Only two?" said the girl in a
tone of relief.
"Well, two main things" he cor
rected gently. ''One is whether his
story is worth writing"
"Mine is certainly worth writ
ing broke in the girl impatiently.
The author waved his hand with
mild, protesting gesture.
"Of course" he observed. "rhe
other is whether the writer can write
it."
sBut," said the girl, drawing her
eyebrows together, "that is just what
have come to you for"
"What--to ask me to write it?'
exclaimed the author in some per-
turbation.
"Dear, no---that is, not exactly,
but to find out how it ought to be
written. And them
'.And them" he inquired.
swell, if you like" she remarked
i kindly, Il don't mind if we write it
together"
''But,' objected the author, 81
have never elaborated"
"Nor have L." said the girl.
"Yet you propose he began.
NO" she interrupted hastily; Il
should leave that entirely to you"
"Leave what ?" asked the author
pleased to find his original suspi.
cion verified, for the girl was Ger.
tainly interesting and remarkably
pretty.
'"The collaboration, l suppose
she explained.
"Ah, the collaboration! But the
story?"
/, els all about GIRL" she said.
$50 far, then, it is likely to be
good" remarked the author judi.
cially. 1t was odd, he unused, that
he had never before noticed the
wonderful delicacy of the girls com.
plexion. Cali about girl" he re.
peated mechanically, embracing nc
other charaeter?" IA
"She might be made to embrace
some one" replied the girl reflective.
".
"She-but / mean the story" The
author corrected.
"Oh, the story! I was thinking o.
the girl"
"And SO am l." said the author.
"You see, she ran away" explain
ed the girl, leaning forward on hel
elbows and speaking in confden
tial tone.
ooh, she ran away! From SCHOOL,
| "No; from her husband!"
''Bless me" said the author, ''wha'
a very wicked young ladyr
''She merely did it for a--well, :
kind of lark" explained the cir
apologetically.
"That is some slight conformation
Of course" admitted the author.
''rhen," went on the girl, "thers
was the other man."
Naturally" sighed the author
with weary recollections of Adelph
melodramas. "She ran to him?"
Nothing of the sort" exclaimed
the girl. "The other man didn'I
even know her."
THAT seems to simplify matters
as far as the girl is concerned"
but she knew him." went on til,
girl, nodding her head sagely at thu
author.
''How long had she known him 2
asked the author, with resignation.
ooh. ever so long! You see, he,
! school friends cousin had intro
,auced her to him when she still hat
long hair
"You mean before it was cut off 2
"No, no! When it was down he
back. The man was the schoo
friends Cousins brother-in-law ant
naturally wouldn't remember her.
Naturally" sighed the autho
again.
"But," put in the girl triumphant