Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-08-31

and my vision or her story was 1ouno
not to be so bad as might have been
expected she might let me down with
comparative ease.
A perusal Of the page proofs took
away all hope. My ending Of the story
was not at all borne out by the circum-
stances. Every one Of forty-nine Of
the fifty chapters bristled with reasons
why my denoucment could not have
been possible. l, the author, the firm,
would be ruined. Nevertheless the
issue must 60 as 1t was. The story
had been advertised for issue on GER
tain date and must be in the hands Of
the dealers at that time.
When I took up the first criticism
on the story trembIed. 1t happened
to be one Of those that to US who know
mean that the writer had not time to
read the book. II spoke Of Miss Quig-
ley's marvellous ingenuity, etc. I
groaned Marvellous ingenuity! Just
wait till some fifteen dollar week I'M
derstrapper has read the book atten-
| lively.
The next criticism l read was more
definite. It spoke Of the story as the
most subtle Of all Miss Quigley's won
derful plans. The critic was reminded
Of the stories Of eminent detective
story writer's who left purposely
shadow Of doubt in the readers mind
Just what was intended. The story Of
1.-THE Lady and the Tiger" the denoue-
ment Of which was left to the reader,
was cited as a most successful effort
In this line Of work.
An idea popped into my brain Turn
ing to my stenographer. dictated the
following item, which sent to trade
paper devoted to book news:
The Gem of Good Hope" by Alice
Quigley. is q new departure in detective
story writing. After ably leading the
reader through q number Of incidents,
each calculated to suggest theory, the
writer with consummate skill brings the
story to an end upon a theory not at all
In harmony with the facts laid down.
leaving the reader to form any theory
that he can NJ to the narrative.
Having secured the publication of
this item In one paper, l took meas
ures to have 1t copied by others. It
was not long before many Of those
who read the book had heard that II
was intended for puzzle to be work.
ed out by the reader. The consequence
was that every reader perused the
pages with the utmost attention In Or
der that he might be the better able
to form the correct theory.
AS soon as this view Of the case was
spread abroad the sales Of 1.-THE Gem
Of Good Hope" rapidly increased. l
seriously meditate,l Offering prize for
the person who should give the correct
Interpretation to the story. would
surely have done 30, but since 1t would
be impossible to name anything that
would conform to the facts as laid
down did not see how any one could
win the prize. This, Of course, would
reject on the integrity Of the pub
fishers.
Fortunately before Miss Quigley re-
turned from her trip her book had had
an enormous sale. saw notice In
q newspaper Of her arrival and forti
fed myself with number Of checks
with which to make defense when
she visited me. She came In with
eyes aflame and so choked with GRIM
nations for me that she could not ut
ter them. took advantage Of the de-
lay to hand her a $1,000 check. She
took It without looking at 1t and, hav-
ing found her voice. fired volley. To
this replied with $4,000 check.
This check she glanced at. and 1t pro-
duced an effect. She was beginning
again when fred big gun Mt her
loaded with $4,000 shrapnel. This
staggered her. and she looked at all
the checks had given her.
"What does this mean?" she asked.
ut MEANS" I said. that your last
and greatest work has had n phenom
email sale. No such literary financial
success has been attained in years
Sit down. Miss Quigley, and / Will tell
you how 1t came about"
And did. gave her the story
much as have told 1t here. When ]
had finished 1t required some time for
he. to satisfy herself that she had met
with piece of good fortune instead OF
the barbarous treatment she had sup
posed.
Her next story she drew with the
intention Of leaving the reader to guess
the outcome. 1t proved failure.