The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-14
A Novel IdeQ--A Short Story
BY F. HARRIS DEANS

why don't you write q novels" said
Betty suddenly.
why don't you?'' / ietorted.
Betty gave delightfully."- sly smile.
You won't tell anybody. will you."
"I'll be a perfect mausoieum of sill
ence." l promised.
She hesitated, glanced over her
shoulder to see IL anyone had entered
the room. and then bent forward.
Il am" she confided in a whisper.
Leaning back in her chair. she re-
garded me expectantiy.
Great Scott" l murnured.
Betty looked somewhat indignant at
my, perhaps, too excessive surprise.
We'll, why shouldn't II" she de-
manded.
mo reason at ALL" cried hastily.
Goodness knows, paper is cheap
enough. What's 1t about?"
It's quite original" she declared
proudly.
Il never met an author whose
wasn't" remarked pessimistically.
y What's particularly original about
yours-the title?"
Don't be SO horrid." she protested.
with pout. Its all original"
Then 1t won't SELL affirmed.
"Oh, well, it's not as original as all
that. I'll tell you about it. For one
thing" She stopped suddenly. and
looked at me suspiciously. Il suppose
you are Interested"
l took my hand from my mouth in
some confusion.
Immensely" asserted. You were
saying :"
We'll, wasn't saying anything, as
a matter of fact. was only going
to-"
Keep going" said encouraging!y.
Well she nestled more comfort
ably among the cushions-"that the
hero. for instance. He's not the ordin-
airy hero. of course"
Him. said enthusiastically
I'm fact" she admitted frankly.
hes really not a hero at ALL
Good" commented, with nod.
What are you calling the book
The Hero who Isnt?' 4
Don't be sarcastic. now. When I
say he isn't hero, of course I don't
mean that"
THE great charm of this book"
murmured approximately. will be its
lucidity. What is he Them
We'll = she hesitated and
glanced round the room as IL in search
of suitable description.
Hes just a man." she explained
with burst of frankness.
Now we're getting on. That set
ties his sex at the start. It's always
as well not to have any doubt on Il
subject like that. Is there anything
else striking about him: What color
is his hair?"
Il haven't mentioned his hair" said
Betty, not quite sure whether to be
indignant.
We'll, you'll have to- I informed
her reprovingly. Otherwise they
may think he's bald. Unless
broke off and meditated for a mo-
ment.
"A bald hero would be rather a nov.
city," l suggested.
Betty looked at me in hurt reproach.
and the heroine?' | went on. be.
coming interested, could invent a
hair-restorer and SO win his love. And
the villafn"-I began to get excited
could bag the recipe and get out a
patent first. You could have quite an
emotional scene where he refuses to
sell the hero a bottle
Even il you're not interested" said
Betty pathetically, you needn't
laugh"
Il was trying to help you," plead
ed. Go on about the hero, then"
If you must know" she said sharply.
'the hero is something like YOU"
THE dickens" ] calculated in dis
may.
Only better" she added You
needn't sheer. because he is"
And the heroine?" l asked mildly.
Betty had the grace to blush.
She's like me-" she said aggres-
sively.
"Only better" suggested.
She's different" she admitted, lin
some ways"
ITO make her interesting" opined.
Betty glanced at me coldly.
And they're in love with each 9TH
err" she mentioned
Just so,' said
And the villain loves her too"
Il see," l assented; the two love
her."
The too" Betty looked puzzled
for a moment, and then light came to
her. "Oh, you mean the two. Yes,
they both do She glanced at me
with her head on one side. What do
you think of it,"
Isis that the plot?" gasped.
Betty hesitated.
That's all I've thought OF SO far