The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-18
How an Author
Achieved Success
BY DONALD CHAMBERLlN

story in his room in a tenement build
ing in which various nationalities had
their abodes. His first dwelling place
since he had begun writing was a
handsome bachelor apartment house.
He had not found literature profitable
and had moved from time to time, each
move carrying him downward.
His literary aspirations had come
down with his i'll success. He had be-
gun by firing over the heads of the
people" and had ended by firing low
enough to cut off some peoples toes.
This was what he was writing at the
present time:
This detective who has come among us,
who seeks for evidence to convict our
most valuable members, must be obliter-
ated. / shall rely on you and the others
to keep me advised of his movements and
inform me of the opportune moment to
strike him. Send me word at what hour
he usually goes out-whether he is alone
or attended. Does he ever cross the park?
II / can catch him there, where the dam
ger of witnesses would be at the mimi
mum. l would finish him at a single blow.
Kenton wrote this twice, and, select
ing the copy that he liked best, he
threw the other on the floor Then he
went on with his story, which ended
with a certain person known only as
1.-The detective" being murdered in cold
blood while crossing the park.
1t was late In the afternoon when
Kenton finished the last chapter and.
wrapping up his manuscript and ad-
dressing 1t to a publisher, went out
with 1t, dropped 1t in receptacle for
bulky mail and proceeded to restau-
rant for dinner. In the evening, hav-
ing a deadhead ticket to movie thea
ter, he attended a play and about IL
o'clock started for his room. AS he
approached he saw number of men
standing before the entrance, among
whom were several policemen. On
drawing nearer he noticed that the
front of the building in which he lived
was scattered on the pavement and the
street
whats the matter there!" he asked
man coming toward him from the
wrecked building.
Bomb" said the man as he hur-
ried on.
Kenton paused. He knew that the
building had been filed with a mis-
cellaneous people. including German
French, Norwegian, Italian and other
nationalities. He did not relish the
fact that he as a roomer there might
be mixed up with this bomb throwing
He turned to walk away, was seen by
a policeman and followed, the fact of
his turning having excited suspicion.
The policeman took him to the build
ing, where the owner, standing among
the others, recognized him.
That's the man." said the landlord
What man." asked the policeman.
The man that rooms where you
found the note"
A pair Of handouts were clapped on
Kenton's wrists, and he was taken TO
a police station. The landlord went
along as a witness. There was a pre-
liminary examination, at which the
landlord swore that Kenton occupied
room in which an discriminating pa
put into cell.
The next morning, when Kenton was
wondering what 1t all meant, a lawyer
was ushered to his cell who said that
he had been retained by certain parties
to defend him, but that the defense
would not amount to anything. The
prisoners friends relied rather upon
terrorizing any witnesses that might
testify against him. But why" asked
the attorney, were you SO careless as
to leave that letter where 1t would be
readily found?"
What letter" asked Kenton
THAT letter to the gang announcing
that you were ready to kill the detec-
tive"
Il never wrote such letter.
The lawyer shrugged his shoulders.
For heavens sake, man." cried Ken
ton, suddenly remembering his story,
you don't mean that they have found
scrap of my Sicilian story?"
They found letter Offering If those
to whom 1t was written would put the
writer on to how to get certain de
tective you would do him."
why, that is fiction"
Fiction be hanged! You can't play
that game with the public prosecutor,
but you needn't be afraid. That letter
doesn't prove that you threw the bomb.
It's only circumstantial. You keep
quiet. Your friends have got 1t all
fixed, and you can't be convicted"
You needn't consider yourself my
counsel. I'll take care of my own
case"
Very well; IL you want to be sent
up for a term OF years or to the chair
go ahead. All have to say is the only
thing that can save you is terrorizing
any witnesses who may be brought
against you"
With that the man of law departed,
and Kenton sent for a friend who was
also an attorney. When the latter ar
rived Kenton told him that he had got
into a fix from writing a blood and
thunder story and must be helped out.
The lawyer called on the publisher to
whom his clients manuscript had been
submitted with a copy of the scrap of
| paper that had been picked up and
found its place in the novel. He sue,
ceeded in procuring Kenton's release
without his being brought to trial.
The incident attracted the publishers
attention to the story and procured q
reading for it. The reports concurred
that the story was thrilling and espe
cially adapted to the class of readers
the firm desired to reach. 1t was pub
lished, was a great success and estab
lished the reputation of the author.