The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-27
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Henry Makes a Million.
81 II. THOMPSON RICH.
(copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndtcate.)


~ HAIRLESS 3. C. AcKERsoN was
y an Obscure little author OF un.
popular fiction - short stories
fhat one thanked heaven were short,
snd novels that inevitably found their
way. to the Your pick, twenty-five
+ centsr counter IN the basement Of de-
Iibartment stores.
The difficulty lay not in any lack OF
language, but In certain dearth OF
+ IDEAS. He would seize hold Of medic
!, Gre plot some thousand or 80 other
writers had sifted exceedingly fine and
4 70 over Il once more, with a close-tooth
comb. Result: a dull and tedious tale.
Ever hear Of him? doubt 1t. Any.
way you would be unlikely to know he
had q laughter. He had. though! Her
name was Allalie, and her mother had
tied when she was very small, leaving
|llier to her fathers kindly but irregu.
lar tutelage. AS a consequence OF
which, by the time she reached TWEEN.
|',ty,she was in possession among other
Fittings Of as vigorous an artistic tenn
tEnrament as the most ardent tempera-
l(t1ent fan could desire.
Now an artistic temperament must
have It's opposite, and hers was II. H.
lBennink though he pretended he had
lust such temperament as hers and
Igwore he was q writer For Bennink
WAS yersed In the ways Of women.
Moreover, he and the aforesaid Charles
| a. g. were friends. This, with the fact
that he actually was in love with
daue Ter Allalie, and you have sit
|uation that would really have afford.
led grounds for fiction.
Henry" Charles said one day, you
6op't write. I'll wager you never sold
d story in your life"
Flush" Henry replied, dropping a
slow lid. II use mon de plume"
Whereupon Charles had ceased to be
sconcerned on that point. They under
stood each other; and the sooner a
certain marriage took place. the better.
But not SO Allalie. She wanted a
real author, not one who used mon de
piumesp and was mysteriously reticent
about his work.
ITS no use, Henry" she exclaimed
lot length, after he had been coming to
rec her for several months. you've
either got to write under your own
name, or go away-for good"
Her words were final, and he
new It.
.Would You marry me If 1 did:" he
asked.
Yes. she said.
Now watch!
Bennink, being business man, be-
took himself to Charles inner shrine
land sat with him in solemn conclave.
There was bold talk, and mention Of
sums OF money in seven figures An
agreement was reached. Then he re-
turned to Alialie.
My dear" he said, at shall be as
you wish. shallsreveal my identity
at last. In series OF stories which l
promise to begin tomorrow"
And when tomorr9w arrived, the
series was begun.
We must now suppose some months
To- have elapsed, and Allalie to have
become Mrs. Bennink.
Do you remember those stories in
Magazine last year. about the
young fellow who succeeded in reliev-
ing Wall Street Of so much money?
sfienry Makes a Million" the series
was called. Perhaps you have forgot
ten, but the name H. H. Bennink was
rnder the title.
Bennink will never forget. The
memorable day the issue containing
BIS first story appeared, he had re-
burned from tho office (Yes, indeed, it