The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-03-13
THE AUTHOR OF
UNLOOSED."
torigina1.l

s<-h' $500
most important since he requires the
most money in bis business, though the
printer Is not usually far behind him.
There were more of both these classes
la the club mentioned than of authors,
few of whom had money to pay the
dues.
But this Ia DEPRESSION. The party
were discussing a new book that had
Just been published by a firm, one or
the Junior members Of which was pres
emit, ''Fetters Embossed" 1t had met
with instant success, The authors
name was not given, the nom de plume
being Emery Periwlnkle. 1t was Il
Of those gIlded pills the world~that
world which reads sensational novels
loves to swallow. 1t gave an Excuse
for what many people desired, but re-
| Trained from doing, and some do with
more or less resistance. 1t would have
been well enough except that Its prln-
ctples If carried into effect would break
up perhaps one family In every three
or FIVE.
Come, Stanton" said one OF the
men present to the publisher; tell us
who Emery PeriwInkle Is"
Couldn't possibly. 1t would be a be
trayal OF confidence"
AT least tell us If the author OF
'Fetters Embossed is man or woman"
Couldn't do that, either"
"No woman would ever have taken
that view of the subject" said one Of
the party"
"Why notT'
"She would need to have been cor
rupted by a bad world, and my expert
ence IL that only women who wish to
be corrupted are corrupted"
ar don't think much Of that argn-
ment," said another, "but 1t Is not
needed. Everything in the book is
from q mans standpoint"
an tell you what III do" said Stan
to-. "Ill make a pool. There are -four
Of you. I'll put In S. for each of you.
Then I'll give a supper to twenty peo-
pie, the author Of 'Fetters Embossed to
be among the number. You shall
throw dice for choice. The II throw
ing the highest number may pick out
Ave persons, each man In succession
thus picking out FIVE. Whoever has
included the author In his number
wins the pool"
"Where do you come inT'
"I2 oh, wen make the number of
guests twenty-one. This leaves one
unchosen. I'll take the n left out"
Stanton could we'll afford the treat,
and the others were much pleased to
accept 1t. A few days later each n
of the four received an invitation to a
supper party at Stanton's house to
take place at II o'clock, after the the
aters were out. They found there
eleven men and ten women. Some of
the men and some of the women were
known to be authors, some ambitious
to be authors and some not known at
all as aspirants for literary honors.
They were as different from one an
other as could possibly be. Some were
bGll NpiSNApuHs SoLIN hAbhSSty hhu ~
were some who did not seem sufi-
GENTLY gifted In ideas for ordinary
use, let alone writing a book. There
we're two men with a sensual look
about them, one woman who appeared
a trife loud and Il girl Of nineteen who
blushed If any n spoke to her.
During the ~supper-the order Of
choice had been decided before 1t be-
gan-each of the four members Of the
pool selected FIVE Of the guests, The
loud woman and one of the sensual
men were taken up In the first choice.
The other sensual mar and a member
Of the Woman's Press club were In the
next lot. The man having third choice
picked all the rest who looked as II by
any possibility they could write a
book. The fourth man was obliged to
take what was left, none of whom
gave the slightest appearance Of being
a winner. The girl who hlushed, not
having been chosen, fell to Stanton.
The party was too incongruous t
keep long together, and when 1t broke
up the four pool members remained be
hind. Stanton called on the man whC
had first chosen to name the winner
from his number. He named first thI
loud woman, then -four others in sue
c~ession, but Stanton shook his head a
every one. Second choice then mad,
his guesses and failed, The guessing
pnt, an an fn ha aUCttiu0 NEhaA th5r,
choice failed to name the author, al
were struck with wonder, and wheI
fourth choice failed every man &c
cused Stanton Of having gone back oil
his agreement.
Not at all, gentlemen" he said soft
ly, "There still remains one person no
named"
what! That stupid looking child no
yet fit to be out of the nursery who fel
to you? She doesn't count"
every one in the party counts,
agreed that the author should be pres
ent at the supper, and | have kept m.
agreement. People blame us psblish
ers because we can't tell the big win
!. ming novels before the public pro
l nounces on them. / gave you gentle
men nil the chances. taking the last
that none Of you wanted, and / won
The author of 'Fetters Embossed 1
Miss Susan Brock. It's my opinion sh
hasn't the slightest idea Of the accept
J ed meaning Of her work-just as on
may perpetrate a witticism withou