The Newark journal., 1906-02-09
Van VaIkenberg in Literature 9 9
By HAYDEN CARRUTH

NOUNG MT Schermerhorn Van Walk
 enberg,s attention was first attract ed to literature when melancholy young novelist superseded him in the esteem of certain lady Young Mr Van NaIkenberg survived the defee- tion of the lady. but it set him to think ing.
 "A fellow doesn't seem to be worth 50 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 cant print it? Well, hardly. "
 By which Fitz knew that Van Walk enherg had tried it, or how did he know about the beautiful slips2 But Fitz kept still; he was sort of a pension CT on Van Yalkenberg, and had learned discretion
 No" continued the other "I know a better way than that. ts 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 bCok-who said that il ism heat but the appearance of heat that you're after"
 Going to hire some clever chap to do your wrlting?"
 No, though l thought of that at first Clever chap would build me up a nice reputation. and then blackmail ne for the rest of my life. I know these clever chaps No; my plan is this I'll go 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 l was writing for the magazines, wouldn't it?'
 Best in the world, should say" re- turned F'itz. But aren't you going to hayo trouble in getting the cashiers to make the exchange"
 "Oh, I'll fix somehow, an swered Van Nalkenberg cheerfully You just lie low and don't say word about it and you'll see"
 Young MT. Van Valkenberg found il rather more difficult to carry out his plan than he had expected But through a slight acquaintance with a clerk in
 I to an asgiatant in another, he managed to get hold of two checks. The cashier of third leading publisher remained impregrable 10 a frontal attack, so the ingenious Van Nalkenberg executed a flank movement by arranging with the advertising department, for a certain amount Of space sending his check in payment for an even hundred dollars 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 pleaee give him the firms check for the JtsYence, which the ebliging advertis!rE manager did. and the young man with the desire for the appearance of authorship departed happy
 The next day at the club young MT Van Valkenberg took some letters from his pocket. and little slip of paper flutetred 10 the floor, quite by chance. The friend with whom he was dining picked 1t up and caught the name of the publishing firm as he did so.
 Hello, Van," he commented. as he returned it. got a job with these peo- pls1'
 ''Oh, no," answered Van Valkenberg, slightly embarrassed; mo. not job exactly. If you'll keep 1t quiet, though. I don't mind telling you that I'm going in for writing little. just to pass away