The Wahpeton times., 1917-09-13

penny except what he earns, ind he
Just manages to keep body and soul
together. That dress suit of his Is
beginning to look bit shabby"
"No one notices his clothes!" ex-
claimed Ina, rallying strongly to Has
sett's defense. "He was the best
talker, the most interesting man here
tonight"
Violet Treat stared at her cousin in
surprise.
"1na Brett" she exclaimed. "what
about Ward Bentley?"
"Oh. his book was charming, delight
ful! 1 loved it.! But he, the man him
self, wasn't bit interesting to me.
His conversation was to me actually
flat, and commonplace"
1T often happens that people who
Gun write, cannot talk" said Mrs.
Treat. "He has done something. That's
more to the point. Poor Hassett, I
suppose will drudge along this way the
rest of his days. I'm glad you are
getting interested in him. wish you
would take him off my hands,"
"Thank you," freezingly responded
Ina. II don't fancy I could take him
off your hands If I wished to. Be.
sides I'm not exactly obliged to take
up with anyone's leavings."
"Now, dearie." coaxed Violet, II was
only Joking. l was just glad you were
friendly, that's ALL"
1t soon became apparent that all
Mrs. Treats lines were out to ensnare
the now famous novelist. Ward Bent.
ley. David Hassett saw this, and
seemed to accept his fate with quiet
resignation. He sought the society OF
Ina Brett more and more till Mrs
Treat secretly orincd the girl had tax
en- her advice, which she had ut frs
go scornflllly rejected. AS for Ina. shi
felt that Iassett's attentions meant
only good fellowship. But one day she
awakened to fact that her regard for
him meant a great deal more.
One evening she said 10 him: Il
wish YOU would let me see something
you have written"
Glow do you know 1t would be
worth your while to take time to read
tt?' Hassett asked.
Il know it would be worth WHILE"
Her voice had the ring of firm con.
viction.
"Don't think I'm not grateful for
your faith, your confidence in my abil-
ity. 1t means to me more than YOU
think. But just now I am pot boil.
Ing. Some day perhaps" He stopped,
and looked away.
"Not some day." she cried. "You
must do it now! Never let your gift
from God be buried. You have no
right to do that!"
mo right" he echoed blankly.
mo. it is yours! 1t belongs to you !"
After that he was silent, and ab-
stracted, and soon went away.
Invitations were out for Ward Bent
ley's ''at home." His studio was very
"artistic," and "who's who" were ex-
pected to be there. Ina went I: ne
on the afternoon of the affair, and find
ing the outer door which led to a
draped passageway open, entered. She
stopped arrested by the sound of angry
voices.
"You hawked that novel all over"
yelled Bentley, "and you were mighty
glad to sell it to me for five hundred
dollars, and let ME put my name to it.
You were glad too to sign a contract
to write another on the same condi-
tions."
II was starving" answered the voice
Of David Hassett. II had to make that
Infamous bargain"
"Yes, and now because got 1t pub
tished. put up my good money for it,
and It's success, you want to crawl
out of your contract"
mo, don't. The second book is
almost finished. I'm asking you to
give me half of the royalties"
"No, you'll keep your contract. It's
my name. not yours that's worth some
thing now. I'll divide the royalties
On the one after this"
mo you won't" answered Hassett.
"There won't be any more after this.
I'll take my chances with my own
name. If die at it that's my look
out. won't be part of this con-
temptible lie any longer"
Bentley changed his tone, and
begged and pleaded with Hassett, Of
fered to give him all the royalties. and
finally offered to pay him for the use
Of his own name as author. But Has
i sett was firm in his refusal.
Ina, at first too astOunded to move,
crept away wondering why such a
scene could have happened on a recep-
ton day. She looked at her watch,
and found she had made mistake,
and was an hour too early. The mys-