The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-12-16
AN ANONYMOUS NOTE
BY HELEN v. TURNER.

Eostand'
The maEager tapped bell. An ut
tendant appeared and was directed to
admit the visitor. The latter entered
with IL roll of manuscript.
IN. Rostlnd." said the manager, ad-
vancing effusively and taking both
hands of the visitor in his. Il am de-
lighted to see you"
Pardon, sir: you have mistaken the
name. 1t is Nostand, not Rostand.
am not the author of 'Cyrano de
Rergerac.'
no: you are not, but you are Il
nephew Of the celebrated Rosiand
and have come from Paris to America
incogn!to to dispose Of play written
under the guidance of your uncle"
The visitor stood looking III aston
ishment at the manager. then said:
May l ask how you became aware
Of that?"
81 was informed by an anonymous
note"
"Parbleu! 1t was agreed between
my uncle and myself that l should
come over here and offer my play for
what it is intrinsically worth. Unless
YOU will give me your promise not to
betray my identity my plan has
failed"
You need not go further with your
work. ! am ready to make you IN
offer for it,
II prefer that 1t shall stand on it's
merits"
sit shall. If 1t is not worthy of pro-
duction it shall not be placed by me
on the boards. take especial pride
IN giving TO the public only such plays
rs seem to me to be mcritorious'
But you said you were ready to
make me an offer for mine"
"Certainly knew that your uncle
would not consent to your offering an
inferior play and that no work could
he inferior which he had supervised"
The visitor. who had meanwhile been
invited to take a seat sat tapping he
roll in his hand with his fingers. he
was evidently dissatisfied with The
turn The affair had taken.
Come. NJ. Rostand. or NeStand. il
" T..
take yomr play home with me tonight.
read it ard give you an answer to-
morrow pledge you my word that
if think it will not be acceptable to
the public | shall decline it and you
shall be free TO offer 1t where you like.
! agreeing to keep your secret"
"Since YOU already possess that So
III, Il, ,t
reluctance. Il can do nothing but what
you propose therefore leave my
manuscript with You till tomorrow
morning at-what hour
"Ten o'clock. Nine if you prefer Il.
, 81 win call al 10. I shall rely upol
: you to ignore me and my uiicle's repu
tation in the matter and produce my
nlay only if you consider it meritori
Gus"
"Certainly.'
Remember that ny own name. Nos
. tand. must be published rs the an
: thor. not that Of my uncle"
!. The manager strnked his beard com
placently and looked at the autho
: through a pair of shrewd, twinlilin'
. eyes.
ITS the play I want" he said, no
:, = the name"
The author withdrew. while the man
ager. returning to his desk. opeiied
drawer and took out printed form O
contract. the blank spaces Of which Il
proceeded to fill. Then he unlocked
safe. put NJ. Nostand's manusrril
within its steel doors. shot the bel,
and. taking up his hat and cane. LET
the theater.
The next morning at 10 O'Clock IN
manager was in his Office awaiting
call from NJ Nostand. At II O'CLOCK
when he had not appeared. the hr"'
of the man who had hattercd hin$"
that he had secured prize began
darken. But. remembering that he la
the play locked in his safe his cor
placency returned TO him. At II :
the author WAS announced. He wa
received with distinguished considers
ton. The manager handed him tt
contract he had prepared.
whats thiS?" asked the auth"
glancing at the document.
1Ou tDlnk. Salu the llitudSf
'that 5000 advance payment is NJ
enough. Very WE'LL | will make
$4,000"
'"Ten thousand" repeated NJ. No
tand in amazement.
"And the royalty ! will double !
WE'LL
do you consider my poor etfor
worth so much?"
Certainly. 1t is the work OF an e
pert"
How do you judge OF that"
"sAs an expert 1t is plain that II
scenario received an enormous amou
| OF attention before word Of the di
logue was written, though the di
logue shows the influence Of the a
thor of 'Cyrano.' The play will be
grand success"
Where is the manuscript"
"Never mind the manuscript. L
us proceed to business Read the co