The Prescott daily news., 1912-07-19
Fame m
 Pursuit

JOuQ taltOn lelC the trust com panys building with quick, springing steps. He had much to think of in his half-hour walk to the station of bis suburban train. If his story in a current magazine had been a surprise to his friends, 1t had been, in a way, none the less one to himself. It was not remarkable that the story should be one of finance; his position with the trust company gave him a knowl- edge of the theme and an acquaint- ance of many men.
 A man back of him touched his shoulder.
 How are you, Falton?"
 John swung around and caught the mans hand
 You, Seabury? Well, this is good. didn't know that you were at home"
 I've just come in. Ah--does this in here mean you, Falton?" He tapped significantly a magazine under his arm. ..~,a s4 .,. Ts1}s .4.e.,-.
 John nodded with a little embar- rassment, What do you think of it, Seabury?"
 Great, as a story But--er-a bit too much from life, Patton. Looks as though you'd taken it from-er-that cotton deal"
 That's nonsense, Seabury. Your cotton deal was wholly legitimate, wasn't it? And I did not know enough about it to write it up. The story is fiction"
 John entered the station with an in- describable irritation coursing through bury could be so foolish" he nut tered.
 His train did not go out for five minutes, so he made no attempt to pass the man who stepped out of the crowd to speak to him.
 Hello, Patton, so you've been scrib- bling, I see"
 "A little" John admitted He tried to forget Seabury and to act natural ly. Have you read it"
 70, yes; very good, very good, in- deed. but just-er-just err. You didnt-have any particular person in mind?'
 Tt was a creation, pure and sim ple,s bristled John. "You could hard. ly expect me to write of finance as would of engineering, thing I know nothing about?'
 9 70, no, of course not You have quite a gift-no doubt-no doubt of it Patton"
 Excuse me-" said John. "I'll miss my train"
 But his fame still pursued. As the train pulled out a fellow-townsman settled himself beside John.
 Well, Patton, you've been roasting 'em, eh7 I suppose you've known of more than one deal of that sort?"
 "None at all," snapped John.
 70, thought you'd taken it from something that you'd got on to-"
 'Tt's story, fiction, every word"
 Forty minutes later John closed the door of his home with a sigh of re- lief Mother" he called, and she came hurrying to him.
 70, John. I've so much to tell you. First, Mrs Elswood came here this, morning. She was so surprised, John. But she thinks the story"
 Mother" he interrupted, "let us have dinner and not the story Do you know, honey, I'm bit tired of It."
 70, suppose you've heard noth- ing else all day, poor boy. We'll, if, you will be so clever, you must take the consequence. But come, I'll say not another word about 1t until you are rested. Maggie has the loveliest surprise for dessert"
 John had just finished the surprise when the doorbell rang. Maggie show ed the man into the little room where John sometimes smoked and wrote, and John held Stanton Wilson's card in his hand when he entered the room. He had known Wilson at college. Their paths had crossed more than once since, but the men had never been friends.
 You are surprised.' Wilson said,