Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-27

into the receiver, after the first greetings
were over.
Il guess So" said Robertson. I've de-
cided to settle the matter with check"
Anything you say, said Nottingham
meekly. "How much"
Leave that to me-, said Robertson.
"Meet me at Sharpe & SINNERS promptly
at ten. Not moment before the hour, and
not minute later, and whatever happens
don't you open your trap once. This is no
time for vocabularles.
I'll make a noise like an OYSTER" Whit
bingham replied, with feeble attempt at
light heartedneSS
lust the same, he was a woebegOne look
ing parsonage when two hours later at ten
o'clock he entered the offices of Sharpe,
Skinner & Son. 1t was a relief to him to find
Robertson already on hand, and something
of a surprise as well to note that with him
was Horace Dalrymple, of Dalrymple
Brothers &, Company, his publishers. He
was about to exclaim on this point, when
Joseph Skinner, Jr., who had been dubbed
Counsel for the Offense" by Robertson, en-
tered the room in a busting, important
manner; greeting them all as cordially, how
ever, as though they had met at a five clock
tea.
at is great pleasure to meet you, Cen
tlemen," he said suavely; and then, with
quick and curious glance at Dalrymple, he
added, "and an additional pleasure to vel
come Mr.. Dalrymple, though | must con-
fess it to be a wholly unexpected privilege.
There was so evident a note of inquiry in
this observation that Robertson promptly
answered it.
Il thought it advisable that Mr.. Dal
rymple, as one of the interested parties,
should be present. said he
"Ah, indeed?" said Skinner. Il was not
aware of the fact. May l ask in what man
ner Mr.. Dalrymple becomes party in in
terest?"
"Very simply" said Robertson "Mr.
Dalrymple is the senior partner of the house
of Dalrvmple Brothers & Company, Pub
fishers, which concern holds a written con-
tract with my client, Mr. Wintringham, for
the refusal of all his literary productions.
BY its terms they have first choice of every
thing that he writes-as YOU will see by the
contract itself Here it is" he added, pro-
ducing the document. "You may wish to
look it over. 1t was made for five years. and
has about two years left to run.
Il do not doubt it. Mr.. Robertson, if you
state it to be so" said Skinner blandly; "but
what is the point in respect to this little mat
ter this morning."
proposed publication of my clients letters
by any other house, before Messrs. Dal
rynple Brothers & Company have declined
them, would be a violation of this agree
ment."
DOUBTLESS, replied Skinner; "but, save
in SO far as this contract gives an additional
value to the writings in our possession, |
don't see how it can possibly affect us. We
are under no contract with MeSsrs. Dali
rymple, Mr.. Robertson, and if Mr. Whit
bingham has permitted these-er-these
charming little fancies of his to come into
our hands before submitting them to his
publishers, that is his lookout-not ours,
certainly. l should say that the Messrs.
Dalrymple might have a very good cause of
action against Mr.. Nottingham under this
contract; but they are not in any sense par
ties to any matter with which my client has
any particular concern. l can assure Mr..
Dalrymple," he added, with decided
twinkle in his eye, which filled Wintringham
with passionate desire to rise up then and
there and smte him, that if we do publish
these letters we shall be doing his distin-
gushed house great commercial service. l
am rather inclined to believe that within
two days of their appearance in the public