The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-23

| SAID.
now adopt when we speak OF the rich,
honestly thought that It would be a
double error for Austen to send this
remarkable valentine to Miss Cope
land. In the first place. he couldn I
afford to do so, for the picture was
amazingly good. and, with a slight sup
preston of the likeness, would certain
| iy be salable some time. In the second
place. II could not fail to evoke an an
swer from Miss Copeland and thus re-
vive an acquaintance which could only
result In pain and disappointment TO
my friend.
Billy" said |. you mustn't commit
this folly. Here's the best thing you
have ever done. and you ought to work
II SO that you can set yourself on your
feet again"
"Yes" said he. How hard DO you
suppose the express company viii swat
me to take this out to MorristownT
And again he eyed the corner Of my
dollar.
I argued the case with him, but
might as we'll have addressed my re-
marks to the jointed dummy Of wood
which he used as a model The best
could do was to persuade him to hold
the picture two or three days before
sending 1t. He had intended to ship 1t
right away in fear lest the landlord
might do something disagreeable In
the way of padlocking the door or 9th
erwise attempting to collect the rent
by violence.
| lent Austen the dollar and while
he was holding it in his hand and con-
templating it with trance-like stare
| deftly picked the inside breast pocket
of his waistcoat, which he had fasten-
ed to the bookcase with thumb tack.
From this pocket | drew an envelope
containing all that was left Of Austen's
pawnable possessions, and succeeded
In getting the ticket for fine suit of
clothes which he had bought just be-
fore his illness. Then, having restored
the envelope with the remainder Of It's
contents, | departed hastily.
After visiting the pawnbroker's and
little tailor's shop called upon the
art editor Of one of our leading maga-
zines, and, having justified my visit by
some rather neat lying, l said to him:
who's buying Harry Austen's stuff
nowr
"Didn't know anybody was,' he re-
piled.
"You want to wake up" said I.
"He has caught on"
"How do you meanr said he.
Hes been doing some swell stun"
I replied, "and 1t isn't for sale. When
was in his studio this afternoon there
was man trying to induce him to sell
a cover design-splendid thing 1t was,
too-and Austen wouldn't let CO."
Ibid he say 1t was ordered"
mo-" said /. HE could sell 1t, but
he won't. He's feeling pretty sure of
himself these days. l shouldn't be sur
prised if your friends across the square
were stocking up with some Of his
work"
"Tell him to come down here and see
me-" said the editor.
"He won't" said 1. Hes got some
thing else on his mind"
The editor drummed on his table and
whistled softly. / was afraid to say
word more and instantly took my de-
parture.
/ went across the square to those
friends" of the EDITORS whom l had
mentioned to him. There found, of
course, another magazines art editor,
and to him l told the same tale. Then
/ met a good fellow on the street who
knew Austen, and / prevailed upon
him to carry my story into two other
publishing houses.
About lunchtime the next day |
vent to the building where. Austen has