Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-04-27
MARTHA'S MENU
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.


she had so many stories to write, each
one was worth remembering for fu-
ture use.
1t was seldom that Martha found
herself without her notebook.
However, Martha soon supplied her
lack by asking for pencil from the
waiter and by making use of the menu
card.
The waiter brought in savOry crab
meat cOncOctiOn and set it before
Martha and so delicious was its flavor
that plots and the writing of plots were
entirely forgotten. She ate quickly,
paid the waiter hurriedly and went
swiftly out of the restaurant and along
Broadway.
The rather serious-loOking young
man who took the chair vacated by
Martha was interested sufficiently in
his menu card to glance at both front
and back of it. On the front he saw
names of dainty edibles from which
he made a selection and on the back
he found Martha's hurriedly written
plot for Il story.
This is more than I prayed for.
murmured the young man, and pro-
ceeded to read all that he could or
Martha's almost illegible writing; "a
story to read and good lunch all for
forty cents"
He had scarcely finished the story
| hot
could be wonderfully improved. when
a stormy-eyed girl came into the res
taurant and stood beside him. Look
ing up, John Durant questioned with
his eyes.
MAY 1 please have the menu card
you just put in your pocket?' Martha
demanded. II left it here but a mo-
ment ago"
"Sit down." suggested Durant and
stood up as if welcoming q friend. Il
want to talk to you about the story
If it really belongs to you"
Martha sumomned a smile. 1t was
not difficult.
"Yes, thank you" she said in an
swer to his request that she join him
in a cup of coffee.
Now" Durant said, when he had
Martha comfortably established behind
the coffee and small sherbet, Il
want to tell you that while the story
4 written on this menu is rather well con
ceived / can give you far better mate
rial for the ending" He proceeded to
outline the story, but brought Il won
derful climax into it that quite aston
ished Martha.
"Oh That is heaps better" she ex'
claimed enthusiastically.
Rather good" assented Durant
thinking of the eyes. 'Now if you
write that story as 1 have outlined II
and send it to the Sunlight Magazine
feel reasonably sure that you will
get a nice check in return. 1t looks tC
me as if that story is just in theil
line"
1T is very good of you to suggest the
Sunlight. l hadn't quite hoped to land
story there. Do you know who the
4 editor is?"
His name is -" Durant ponderet
moment, "Durant. John Durant
Send it to him personally. You'll ge
better attention"
Martha had arisen and her hand was
extended to him. "If sell the story
should like to know my collaboration
name" she said.
II prefer my name to remain Sc
cret. You might he tempted to hur
with yourself. / will watch the Sun
light Magazine, however. and take
great interest in seeing the stor!
there" He dismissed Martha with ;
slight inclination of the head.
Martha was torn between pique ant
elation over the story. She went di
rectly to her studio and worked thu
rest of the day. When the story wa!
finished Martha reread and polished
it, made an extra copy and sent 1t t.
the editor of Sunlight.
Ten days passed before Marth;
heard from her story. Then she re
ceived n note saying the editor wante,
to speak with her about few change
In the story. and she went to the Ofiic'
Of the Sunlight Magazine.
John Durant arose from the editOria
chair to greet her. Martha was so TAX
en- aback when she recognized tn
Young man of the restaurant that
quick color sprang into her cheeks.
| CHI y
John Durant!" She felt intensely fool
ish after that remark.
81 knew l would meet you sooner o
later" said Durant. with deliberat
meaning behind his serious eyes. "Tha
was my reason for Withholding m
name from you" He looked long an
frankly into Martha's eyes. "And nov
for business" he said with smile tina
she found delightful: "this story |
worth two hundred dollars to me,
you are willing to make some sligl
changes. Are your?
"Indeed, l am" she said brightly.
He went over the story with heI
giving her careful detail as to tn
changes. When he had finished h
said softly. you know / have watch
ed you for a couple of months in tina
restaurant, hoping for meeting /
some way. Mt some time. Now AZ
not going to be contented to watch.
"Well." said Martha, you have bee
so good to me already that I hardl
see how l can do anything but-lik
you"