Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-06
BY
BY
GELETT BURGESS.

I insisted upon her help. Besides, I had to
| probe her soul for the ineffable as regards
the dialect current in typewriting circles.
We had long ago recognized the folly Of
| interfering with each ether, for always
had good, legitimate excuses on hand. and
| finally we settled into a sort Of armed neu-
| trality, and 1t was tacitly agreed that we
were three rivals and the best man was
to win. Not that the Prettiest was con-
suited in this, however: It was decided
without actually saying so at an fndigna-
| ton meeting we held to protest at her
going up to town three times in one week.
/ Meanwhile the Public. Magazine was u
steady buyer OF the works Of z. Mari.
From the internecine contest in the rooms
Of the 8. g. s. the rivalry was carried on out
Of office hours. I had friend who owned
an automobile. and he was willing TO lend
secured valuable block OF Clara Fos-
ter's time, and ! invested It to good ad-
vantage. Clara looked the Prettiest even
IN leather coat and deep-sea diving Cog
| arm in frightened way when we turned
sharp curves. Other things Of mildly ex-
citing nature happened till began TO feel
pretty sure that I was going to come in
ahead OF the bunch. I put it up to her
straight, out at the Hermitage. I was AS
scared as II were offering a story TO an
editor. She Flushed and seemed TO be
bit worried about It.
II never expected this" she told me.
Really you don't know how surprised /
am. You'll simply have to give me time
i "
cation for a week, anyway. for I'm tired.
and you know I have worked pretty hard
out OF office hours with you haven't l?
write you a note in answer"
was such fool, in fact, that began to
Joke McComus about her throwing him
down.
Don't be too gay about thatr he said
TN about week I expect to give you
piece OF news thatll make you sit up and
take notice You may think I've been sit
ting on the fence waiting for you and Clare
to go by. but there's a little rowboat and
a well-worn copy Of Lucille that have wit
messed important conversations between me
thatP
I pumped him then without delicacy and
found that he was expecting a letter in re-
ply to his proposal. After comparing notes
we adjourned to Adonram in q body and
collected his evidence.
I'm only waiting for the little word 'ac-
cepted,'" he said before I announce my
resignation and Clara's from the s. S. 8.
There'l be no printed form accompanying
| my best piece of work. I'm sorry, boys. but
can't hold out hopes to you. You're
stung."
| We had a pretty sad old time, that week
| in the factory, and we watched the malls
| as we used to in the old days before we
had an agent. 1t didn't seem like the old
place without the Prettiest at her roll-top
/ desk, sucking a blue pencil and smiling at
| each one In turn.
| The first mail on Monday brought us
three letters. all addressed by typewriter.
Inside they were all three alike:
Miss Foster regrets to say that the pro-
posal you have been so kind as to offer is
not at present available. Her needs are
| limited to special interests with which she
! Is now we'll supplied, SO that declination
does not necessarily imply any fault or
lack of excellence on the part of the offer
submitted. Thanking you for favoring her
with the same. she desires to announce
that she Is about to assume the manage
ment Of the editor Of the Public Maya
zine"
That was why she had been going to
New York three times week. That was
why E. MARI had succeeded so well with
the public. That was where she had got
her ideas on criticism and her technical
hints. We wrote round robin to the edi-
tor upon his enga cement. voted thanks to
our ex-manager and then the factory shut
down. Collaboration without the friendly
offices of the Prettiest Girl In Railway would
have been absurd. The company disbanded
and shared the treasury.
Clara Foster appeared next day in a new
hat-a wonder. She was not only the Pref
test Girl in Railway, but the Prettiest Girl
on the Atlantic Seaboard. the prettiest on
the Continent-in the world! She greeted us
warmly but there was a shade of anxiety
in her demeanor. After a few words and a
smile apiece. she sat down at her old place
by the rol-top desk.
you know I've done all I could for the
S. s. s., don't you, boys?' she asked
We agreed, and she ventured to smile
again
i've sold your stuff and raised the prices
and delivered the money. haven't 1? You've
never done well before and you've made
lots of money, haven't your
We nodded sadly. Not one Of us but
would have rather had Clara than fame or
wealth or success
Then there's one thing I want to tell
you. and 1 want to ask you all a favor"
We waited in gloom.
Il hate to confess 1t, but really 1t wasn't
much of flb. 1 don't see how 1t hurt you
any. But, you know-editors are so FUNNY
The editor of the Public positively insisted
upon knowing who E. MARI was, and I
couldn't sell it unless told him. Sol said
l was really E. MARYLAND that's why he
talked the stun over so I could make 1t
better. Promise that you won't ever, ever
tell!'
We promised. and with that she took
copy of the Book Worm from her green bag
and opened it to a page. There was pic
ture of the Prettiest Girl in Railway and
an account OF her phenomenal literary ca
reer.
But" Adoniram stammered, what If he
asks you to write again?'
The Prettiest Girl in Railway smiled. "Oh.
we're all going to always be the best of
friends, aren't WEI" she said Joyously.