Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1910-08-25

see him. am better now, and I must go
first thing tomorrow. But tell me- Aloll,e,
how did you find out my story was in
this?" And she fingered the magazine low
ingly.
why, it was all luck chance, or
whatever you like to call It," answered
Moll.e, who was dancing round the room
to let off her excitement II was having
my lunch at that A. B. G. shop near the
Adelphia, you know. and two gentlemen
We're sitting at the same table, and one
of them said Have you seen that clever
| story in this months Library? It's called
| "Out of a Broken Rib" OF course /
| prcked up my ears and then he said: I
wonder who Barbara Ellison is, never heard
of her before. but she knows how to write,
| IL she is woman, that's to say Just
| fancy Barbara thinking you might he a
man! And then they went on talking
more about it. but l was so excited just
| gobbled my lunch and went and bought a
copy. Oh. Barbara, how lovely il is. 1
wonder how much they will pay you for
| ito'
The next day Barbar still pale and
| weak. was taken to the Offices of the
Monthly Library by Mollic. who waited for
| her downstairs while she was shown with
! great Difference into the editors room, and
there explanations were given.
II must apologize, Miss Ellison said
| the editor. for publishing the story with
| out your PERMISSION. i can only hope YOU
will forgive me when explain matters to
you. ] picked 1t up in the Strand one
evening some weeks ago, and there was
no address on 1t, and no clue but the name.
| ferhaps was wrong not to have made
| moro searching inquiries. did advertise
the finding of it in one or two newspapers,
but suppose you did not happen to see
them 1t was exactly the story 1 wanted
| Tor my Christmas number and had Nainly
an ted
| to chance that you would know l had
1 done so. hope You Will forgive me. 1
nave check. al our usual rate of pay
ment. ready for you now
He handed her piece of paper and Bar
bara saw through mist that 1t was for
| $50. Never in her most hopeful moments
had she expected such payment. She saw
the rent paid, their most pressing debts
Il disposed Of
oh" she said family, II can't tell you
/ - can't thank YOU She tried to pull
herself together, but she was still weak
| from Illness. and where perhaps pride and
| disappointment might have supported her
gratitude and relief broke down her self
control The editor was looking at her
cur.ously, and there was something in his
race, something IN the compassionate eX-
preston of his eyes that encouraged her
Almost before she knew what she was
doing she was pouring out to him the story
vi "et tIouples. oIlc told all, their pow
ertN, her attempts at writing. her rebuffs
ana disappointments, her visit TO the
Nhapsack her losing of the story her
Illness. and the EDITORS eyes were not
quite so clear as usual when She had
finished. He spoke to her words of kindly
announcements and appreciation, and en-
pressed the hope that he might have the
refusal OF anything else She wrote. And
then an event unprecedented i'm the his
tory of the office he took her downstairs
himself.
Bless me. what's up?' remarked one of
the errand boys, "here's the boss bringing
a lady downstairs. Well, / never She's
not up 10 much neither. not my style, too
pale and pecky-looking.'
You shut up" remarked one of his con-
frcres. possessed of keencr perceptions,
she must be up to a good deal or the boss
wouldn't bother about her
Once safely in the cab, which Mollic in
sisted on having. Barbara's feelings com
plctcly overeame her. "Oh. Mollic" she
cred, she was so kind and delightful to
me- and he wants me to Lei him have the
refusal of everything / write. and Sc,
what he has paid me for my story! 1 ncve,
imagined anything wonderful coul,
happen. And she leaned back with /;
sigh oil content, for truly troubles and pow
crty seemed TO be turning away and pros
perity and joy We're coming out OF theil
hiding places.
The editor of the Monthly Library find
his most valued contributor and his great
est helper in his wife and She and TIN
Barbara Ellison whose name is famou
in the literary world and whose first shor
story appeared In his magazine, are on
and the same person.