The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-12
THE Wzecimg Present ~ Author THE 'o
" Dr. Peace" ARomMnd
Mena" Etc
BY FRANCIS GRIBBLE,.

els GRIBBLE.
1, the afternoon or the day on which IL
i got. the Sausage Kings letter. He't
no friend OF his own looking out 10
anything OF the sort. and he told mi
about It. and after we'd had whiskey
4 and soda together, he wrote nle let
ter Of introduction. took the lettel
IN to Mr.. Quidnunc, anu we fixed !
! up. The salary's 500 year. and the
4 engnEement's for one year certain. ter
4 minablc at the end of that time by one
4 months notice on either side.
Truly a singular and romantic con
catcnation of accidental circumstances
And. OF course. the most romantic
aspect of the situation was that the
change in their position now entltiet
the editor and the novelette, writer
to talk seriously and practically OF
their matrimonial project.
osmond. indeed. thought that there
was no time like the present and nc
license like special one. But the,e
were reasons for delay. which his
nnancee pointed out. The trousseau
was not ready; the furniture was not
bought. She wanted to be taken to
Paris for the honeymoon. and Osmond
was not likely to be able to get away
for more than a weekend for some
months TO come.
ITS not as IL it had really been
long engagement" she added. "We'vc
only been engaged six months" Mrs.
Asphalt supported her daughters ar
gument, and Osmond yielded. moved
chiefly by the consideration that n
weekend was too short time for a
honeymoon.
And in the meantime" Florence pro-
ceeded. you'd better engage me as
one OF your contributors. Why
shouldn't write you serial story.
I've got an idea for a real thrilyer:
The Bloodstained Founding: or Tho
Wrongs of the Rightful Herr I'll let
you have 1t cheap, and give you back
half the money as wedding present"
But Osmond laughed, and threw up
his hands in affected horror. saying:
My dear Florence-a serial story
one OF your serial stores-n the Up
shot!"
The suggestion was, indeed, little
like a proposal to empty the contents
of the London Journal into the pages
of the Spectator or the Saturday Re-
view. Florence knew It, and did not
press the point, though she consid-
cred, in her heart of hearts, that her
chronicle Of mystery and crime was
calculated to extend the circulation
even of those grave and decorous pc
riodicals. And Osmond fastened to
add:
But. Of course, you might do some
thing else. Perhaps we'll have a wo-
mans column-'Pretty Polly's Prattle,'
or something of that sort. Or, falling
that, you might review some of the
novels. Suppose you come up to the
Office on Monday, about lunch time,
and choose batch for yourself"
May L? That's lovely. And you'll
take me out to lunch?"
"of course"
"Where?"
AT the Savoy. If you like
you will? Then you're greater
darling than l thought"
In this way-and with the usual ex-
pressions and demonstrations of af-
fection-the lovers settled their plans
for the prosperous period which they
saw in front Of them. Osmond would
save at least half his income, so as
to be able. at the end of the year, not
only to furnish a flat comfortably.
but also to afford an extravagant
honeymoon. and to start married life
with a sufficient balance at the bank
Florence would have regular employ
ment, we'll remunerated. as a reviewer.
and so be able. without anxiety, to
consecrate her leisure to the compo-
sition of 1.-THE Blood-Stained Found
ling: or. The Wrongs Of the RightCul
Heir"
tits sure to suit somebody. even If
1t doesn't suit you she said. Even
II only got fifty pounds for it.
can buy good wedding present with
that
So osmond kissed her. thanked her
In anticipation. and said good bye:
adding:
"On Monday. then, at quarter-past
1. There'll be one editor at least who
doesn't keep you waiting in a horrid
outer office. And We'll be extrava-
giant for once, and have the best lunch
the Savoy chef can turn out"
She duly came, and they made merry.
The rule established itself that she
should come and that they should make
merry every Monday, though not all
ways extravagantly. and not always
at the Savoy. They were both extreme
ly happy, both in their present and
in their prospects.
You don't feel nervous?" Florence
asked. You're quite sure that you're
going to succeed aren't you?"
quite sure, my pet. It's the chance
that I've been waiting for. and know
how to uso IT.
1t was no idle boast. for Osmond
was not only clever. but clever enough
to recognize his own limitations, and
go slowly trusting the judgment Of
writer's OF larger experience while he
learnt his business and found his feet.
He had tact, too, and got on we'll with
his proprietor, the Sausage King. who
seldom came to the office, but frequent
ly called him up on the telephone, pro-
pounding ambitious schemes for the
enlargement and Improvement Of the
upshot. and also for the purchasing or
launching of other newspapers and
magazines, to be controlled by a vast
trust or syndicate such as that to
which he owed the huge fortune which
he had made out OF sausages. Osmond.
though only five-and-twenty. looked
daringly forward to the day when.
having won the complete confidence OF
Mr. Abel B. Quidn<ac, he would see
himself Installed as managing director
of the immense amalgamation. with