Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-10-12

TOOK place. Inc novel was nnlSneu,
and Stephen, his sophomore year at an
end, came home from college. He had
been invited by some classmates to
spend a part of his vacation with them
on the Maine coast, and his guardian
had consented to his doing so. But
the boy himself had something else to
propose.
"Say," he said, eve been thinking
a good deal while I've been away this
last time. Now, the way I look at 1t,
this college curse of mine isn't worth
while. And the kind of work / want
to do doesn't need university training.
1 want to be down IN the street, as the
governor was. If this rubber company
business hadn't knocked us out I In
tended as loon as l was OF age to take
that seat of his and start In for my
self. Well, that chance has gone, but
/ mean to get in some way, though l
have to start at the foot of the ladder.
Now, why can't I leave college and
start now? It will be two years gain
ed, won't itY'
Captain Elisha seemed pleased, but
he shook his head.
"How do you know you'd like itT'
he asked. You've lever tried"
mo, 1 never have, but III like 1t,
all right. I know I shall. It's what
I've wanted to do ever since I was old
enough to think of such things. Just
let me start In now, right away, and
I'll show you. I'll make good, you see
If l don't"
That evening the captain made a
definite proposal to Stephen. 1t vas
briefly that, while not ~consenttng to
the latter's leaving college, he did con-
slider that a trial of the work In a
brokers office might be a good thing.
Therefore If the young man wished he
could enter the employ of a friend Of
Sylvester and remain during July and
August.
The novel, the wonderful tale which
| Captain Elisha was certain would
make its author famous, was finished
that very day in June when Stephen
came back from New Haven.
The advance copy, the first one, was
ready early in September, and the au-
thor, of course, brought it Immediately
to his friends. They found the dedica-
ton especially interesting, ITO G. W.
and q. w, consulting specialists at
the literary clinics. with grateful ac-
acknowledgements" Probably Captain
Elisha was never prouder of anything,
even his first command, than of that
dedication.
And the story, when at last ii appear
ed for sale, was almost from the be-
ginning a success, and, most important
of all perhaps. it sold and continued to
sell. There was something in 1t, its
humanity, it's simplicity, it's clearly
marked characters, which made a hit.
Pearson no longer needed to seek pub
fishers; they sought him. His short
stories were bid for by the magazines,
and his prices climbed and climbed.
He found himself suddenly planted In
the middle of the highway to prosper
ity.
The novel being out of the way and
its successor not yet far enough adj
vanced In plot or general plan for much
toAoSucSlCu, lhC IAtCldly Slhl1o WClC
no longer as frequent. But Pearson's
visits to the Warren house were not
discontinued. All summer long he had
been coming out once and usually twice
a week. Captain Elisha had told him
not to stand on formality, to come any
time, and he did. On most of these
occasions he found the captain at
home, but if only Caroline was there
he seemed quite contented. The cap
tain was planning a glorious Thanks
giving. At least it would be glorious
to him, for he intended spending the
day and several days at his own home
in South Denboro. He would not leave
Caroline, of course; she was going with
him. Steve would be there, though he
would not come until Thanksgiving
day itself. Sylvester also would be of
the party. He seemed delighted at the
opportunity. Pearson was asked and
had accepted. His going was so far a
settled thing that he had commissioned
Captain Elisha to purchase a stateroom
for him Oh the Fall river boat, for, of
course, the captain would not consider
their travelling the entire distance by
train. A day or two later Pearson n
nounced that he had decided not to
go.
"Hey?" Captain Elisha could scarce
ly believe he had heard correctly. "You
can't go-to South Denboro?"
mo"
"Why not, for the land sakesf Come
here! Let me look at you"
He took the young man by the arm
and led him, almost by main strength,
close to the lighted window of the sta
ton.
'Humph!' he grunted after a mo
ment's scrutiny. you've made up
your mind; l can see that. Have you
told Caroline? Does she known"
Pearson smiled, but there was little
mirth in the smile. II think she agrees