The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-06-03
!. A Best Seller.

| SiatiOnl
did you ever hear" asked the pub
Usher, "how "A Hand In the Dark was
doomed! 1t was not only the best
seller of its season, but 1t sold 800 per
cent better than any other novel pub
lished In five years.
II was just starting into the BUSH
ness then and mighty anxious to make
a strike that would put me well on
my feet, especially as to capital
read hundred manuscript novels Sc
lected from thousand read by my
assistants and cut Of the hundred Sc
lected three that concluded TO take a
risk on, They were all dead failures.
They weren't high grade literary
works either. | knew enough not TO
put out that kind Of stuff 10 make
money on; but, even with stories on
the ground floor couldn't make it
go.
"0ne day measly looking ehap came
into my office and said he wished me
TO go into scheme with him for pub
fishing novel. ! told him that If he
had manuscript to submit ! would
have 1t read.
You're beginning at the wrong
end he said. The story isn't of any
importance. It's making a market for
it that counts. Make your market first
and you can select your novel with
your eyes shut
There was something so brazen
about this that IL attracted my atten-
ton. called for his plan. and he gave
It. He admitted that he ran risk OF
arrest. and ! agreed with him. but
neither Of US thought his arrest would
be very serious matter or injure the
sale Of his novel. ] took a week TO
consider 1t. then told him that he
might go ahead. but my part would
depend upon whether he succeeded In
attracting the attention OF the public
TO his book before II was issued. He
consented 10 this. and the deal was
made.
1T wasn't long before | began TO re.
ceive orders from dealers in various
places for one or two copies each Of a
novel was TO issue called a Hand In
the Dark knew that this was the
name OF the novel | had agreed to
publish. but had never seen the manu-
script. put the orders on file. pay
ing no more attention TO them. Very
soon many Of them were increased.
new ones also coming In. ! began 10
get letters from people-mostly wo-
men-asking when y Hand In the
Dark was TO be published and a re.
quest TO send a copy rs soon as it was
issued These orders also kept grow
Ing till had received sufficient
number OF them 10 pay all the ex.
pense Of publication.
Il now began 10 think Of getting out
the book. Calling for the manuscript.
read II and hadn't gone over fifty
pages before | regretted my contract.
| couldn't back out. for the fellow had
fulfilled his only condition Of making
a market The stun was the worst
ever read. | delayed having the plates
made. hoping for some way out OF the
trap. But the orders continued 10
come In. noticed they were more
scattered than those pertaining 70 any
book had ever published. The In
di.idual orders were enormous. But
saw at once that trouble was brewing
for me as well as for the author,
though had nothing whatever TO dc
with his scheme for making a mar.
ket. Some Of the letters were covert
threats. but most Of them indicated
anxiety IN greater or less degree q
get copy Of the novel
AT last ! made a date OF publica
ton. ON the morning Of the day an
nounced an enormous crowd Of people
, waited before the store TIL the doors
should open was obliged 20 push
my way through struggling mass oi
humanity TO get into my own Office
! The binders had disappointed me. and
| was unable to furnish the book.
had notice tackled up outside 10 Tia
effect and that II would be ready ID,
; next day. How many people wen
away on seeing the notice dom
know. From a window saw a mum
Der Of men approach. smile and leave
: but most Of the women stayed TIL th,
notice was put up. some muttering
some melancholy. learned afterwnr,
!, that the dealers all over the country
a were besieged IN a similar manner
I, though the smaller the town the les
the demand.
II hurried my binders. desiring d
3 get the book out as soon AZ possible.
! expected every day to hear of the au
thor's arrest. and II he were arrested
q feared I would be enJoIDed by cour
n process from publishing the book.
|. wouldn't have cared to be stoppe,
= from issuing II had II not been for th
e fact that there was now a small for
n tune In II.
well. the next day got u oui
Clerks were kept busy all day sellln
e single copies over the counter beside
n those shipped 70 the dealers. In thre
days we had sold 10000 copies. The
= there was a lull, slight Increase. an
q the sales died down TO nothing. Bu
they commenced again when II wa
announced that A Hand In the Dari
:, was a best seller and. taking all III
: sales together. both ] and the autbf
y made q mighty good thing. Some di
a appointed persons threatened 20 pros
cute both me and him. but though