Evening star., 1911-06-04


lery; for many of the pictures were still COW
cred, and could come back again as often
as | wished. Laura wanted me to see VIM
throp's farm, anyhow. Another week, and
my peaceful rest in the bosom of the family
would be over. Mrs. Hazard would assem-
BILE her Cabinet, and | was Secretary of
Frivolous Affairs. I'd begin on the polish,
the stick, the doctor, and the adjustable peg
wit time between stunts only to change my
clothes.
X7E walked the distance to Winthrop's
w along the country road, getting those
occasional g1impses of the ocean that made
this shore so wonderful. We could see his
house quite distance away before we came
to it, where it stood at bend in the road =
an old Colonial topping riotous garden of
old fashioned flowers. A bordered pathway
led uncompromisingly straight to the house,
and as we climbed this pathway we could
see stretching away orderly rows of glass
houses which Laura told me automatically
were vegetable houses.
Winthrop was writing,-we could hear the
click of tvpewriter,-but he saw us through
an open window and came to meet us with
a pencil behind his ear and crumpling a
piece of yellow copy paper.
ave won't interrupt" Laura insisted. Il
know the way about"
"I'm glad YOU came" he said. "I have
nv heroine where don't know just what
to do with her. She'll keep for awhile
You'll be sure to give me an idea. I've been
aching, too, for an excuse to 60 look at my
artichokes, nearly as big as cabbages-and
they try to tell me you can't grow them so
near the shorel'
He led the way through wide hallway
into dear, oldtime living room with good
ly litter of books and magazines everywhere,
and an inviting bay window which looked
out upon the ocean. Here stood big desk,
topped by typewriter and more litter, this
time of yellow copy paper. An inadequate
waste basket was overfowing with crumpled
sheets, and a smoldering pipe rested on
window sill. An old fashioned safe was most
Importantly imbedded in the wall. l took
in the place ecstatically.
as this where the muse works." | asked.
81 don't know anything about the muse
he replied as he smiled at me and rubbed the
back of his head-he had a trick of doing
that. Il know it s where | think, by brute
strength, usually with telegram on my
desk from an impatient magazine man who
wants to know why the deuce | don't send
that story
had to be amused; although it was all so
very different from what | expected-no
dreamy, far away attitude and the burning
fires of genius demanding to be released
"Do you believe what you write?" | asked
curiously.
a hope not put in Laura from the type
writer, where she was reading the yellow
sheet it held. "This heroine of yours ought
to have good shake. Why, Winthrop, you
can't possibly mean"
"Don't preach, he interrupted. perhaps
she's the horrible example. You don't ex-
pect the heroine in story to behave prop
erly, do you? 1t would never sell. l shall
Justify her, of course, and whtewash her at
the end. It's what the public demands"
"Do YOU always write what the public de-
mands?' l questioned.
"When | need the money" he smiled.
"Just now | need the money badly. That's
going to be a best-seller." He abruptly
changed the subject. 1--WE will have some
tea, and I'll show you the prettiest lot of
artichokes you ever saw
He went out to give the order for the tea,
while | examined the books that lined the
walls, and the dear, oldtime pictures hung
in such quaint order over the nantel.
HARDLY looks like the home of a thief,
Ia do you Think" Laura asked abruptly.
"No, replied. l shivered from the very
shock of her question. Laura, you can
think of such awful things!"