Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-09
The Daily Story

copyrighted. 1913. by Associated Literary Bureau

that he had drawn the character Of
Ernest Meriweather. the hero of tie
story. from his friend Mr.. Joseph Mar
ston.
The photograph came by return mail.
Pretty enough to kiss" said Marston.
81 would like to keep il. but since she
says nothing about that | suppose I'll
have 10 send it back. Well, what's the
next move:"
The next move contained more VII
famous deceit and friShtful lying than
all that had gone before. Marston
wrote Miss Hammond that he had
confession TO make Certain incidents
that he had developed into the story OF
My Hero had been told him by his
friend Mr.. Marston, the hero Of
the story. 1t was Mr.. Marston who
had seen her in the garden, He had
shown the gentleman her photograph.
and he had expressed n desire to meet
her.
That's sufficient" unused the plotter.
az wouldn't do for me TO say for Ned
that he would like TO make real ro-
nance out of it ALL That would be
carrying Goals TO Newcastle for it
will be the first idea that will pop into
bis head" So he sent the letter, cum
ningly leaving out the most important
part Of II. OF course a reply came.
stating that Miss Hammond would he
happy to meet Mr.. Marston at her
home, the address being given, at any
time he might find it convenient TO call.
That was all there was in this letter.
Marston replied under his own name.
but in a different handwriting. saying
that. having been honored by Miss
Ham monds permission to call. he
would do so on certain date He had.
however. promised his friend Mr.. TEAL
that he would not involve him in any
way and begged that Miss Hammond
would. for the present at least, con-
slider the circumstances that had led TO
their meeting confidential.
well. now. I like this" remarked
: Marston. Here / am. the hero Of a
novel. about to meet the heroine We
have gone through 400 pages of alter
nate misery and bliss; have been mar
ried on the last page, and it is about
Suddenly the fact thrust itself upon
him that there would come time
when all his knavery must be admit
ted. He shuddered. For awhile he
! thought, then said:
There's but one way out Of II.
| must make the girl love me so well
that she won't stop to consider that In
/ stead of hero I'm a villain"
At the appointed time Marston called
| on Miss Hammond. She was becom-
| ingly dressed, and the lights were turn
! ed low that her visitor might not see
her bushes. for had not love affair
| between her and him all been written
out and printed in book? Marston
was charmed with her appearance. and.
he being handsome chap, she was de-
lighted with him. He blushed as we'll
| ms she. but from a different cause.
Nevertheless he felt obliged to keep up
| the part he was playing for time at
! least
Really. little thought when I saw
/ you among the roses and told my
! friend about you that he was going to
make a novel out of it,
But there's no such scene in the
book" she exclaimed.
isn't there? Now | remember there
isn't. Ned told me he started the
/ story that way, but afterward found
/ ano Their beginning that worked in bet
! ter with his plan"
| I'm told" remarked the girl. that
/ there never has been case wherein
/ two characters in a story drawn from
/ real persons have mated"
/ Are you sure OF that?" said Mar
/ stcn. with a disappointed look.
ut has never happened"
She said this in way that gave
Marston encouragement to believe that
J 1t would happen in this instance.
As the affair proceeded the perpe-
traitor of all this knavery became more
and more conscious of II and conse-
/ quently much troubled. One day he
went to Teal and. telling him what he
had done, asked him for heavens sake
to suggest a way out OF the matter.
! Teall dropped his editorial work and
listened attcntively. Then. instead OF
replying. n thoughtful expression set
tied on his face.
What are you dreaming about?"
asked Marston impatiently.
TEAL did not appear 10 hear him.
and Marston was Obliged to poke him
to get his attention.
"Oh. yes, What deuced fms
scheme that will make for a new
story"
"New story he hanged" replied Mar
ston. You'll put me into no new
story without getting me out Of the Old
one"
Leave it to me-" replied TEAL. grasp
ing his friend hand. These girls
are all dying TO get into story instead
Of getting out OF one. III 20 to see
her and develop a new scheme in
which you two are to be the hero and
heroine. I'll say that this complication
you have brought about is 10 form the
hody Of the romance and take all the
blame on myself"
And he did. The next novel nv
Edwin Teal gave him a reputation
that enabled him TO leave the editorial
treadnilI. retire tn place 10 the conn
trv and devote himself solely to bis
.wn literary ~ori,