The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-02-23


most w men writer's especially made
their heroes so outrageously tall. But
the troubles had been with the illus.
trattons-all the artists were So used
to making the long lean hero tina.
they hardly knew how to 20 about II
in fact, for that reason the hero of
the first story hadn't been depicted in
illustration at all.
Betty answered the letter. She had
rather liked the man in spectacles and
besides. she counted on selling more
stories in the Black and White" mag.
azine. Before many months had pass.
ed she submitted another, in which
the nero was even more stockily built
and well proportioned and ungigantic
than the others. Then came letter
from the managing editor, asking for
photograph Of Betty. He wanted to
make a special boost sory about he.
the granddaughter of SO famous a
writer-and they wanted to know
something about her. Was she mar.
ried? How old was she, etc. etc: Bet.
ty sent them the desired information
and the first thing she knew she and
the man in spectacles were writing
| every week and his letters were not
like those of managing editor to a
contributor at all. but like those OF a
friend WHO had known her ana her fam
lily for years. Then he wrote that
other letter / am fool. know, but /
have that picture of yours in front OF
me on My lesk. can't forget 1t. And
as ! see those eyes looking down at me
feel as if the spirit of the great lit.
erary genius of your grandfather were
spreading blessing over me, only
to me it is infinitely sweeter because
1t shines through the eye of woman"
That is what he wrote and quite a
lot NOR in the same strain, but he
didn't send that letter Instead he sent
letter asking her to call at tile Office
TO discuss new set of stories. aud put
the Letter in a pigeon iole of his desk.
Betty called and went right into the
managing editors room. and there in
the chair where had sat her friend
with spectacles, sprawled "a big over.
grown boy OF six feet two" AS he
rose to greet her she could see that
he was neither thick.set nor especial.
ly well proportioned.
II see," she began, "the managing
editor is out. / suppose l had better
come again"
You might be seated and watt" he
suggested.
You are his assistant, are you not ?"
"Oh, am his assistant" echoed the
overgrown boy, with smile, and then,
as he caught the eyes of Betty looking
at the picture that was placed over his
desk. he added: mo, I'm really the
managing editor. Don't | look like
what you expected"
! "Yes-only-only thought the man
in spectacles was the managing editor.
1t isn't from you that all those letters
have Gomez"
Yes. to be sure. The man in spec
tacles was my assistant He was at
my desk here when l was off on an
autumn vacation. am sorry. can't
help it."
"And you have written those letters
and have passed on the manuscript"
Betty could not hide her great sur.
prise.
yes. I wrote all those letters" the
managing editor was explaining later
after they had discussed the new
series, land wrote another letter that
never sent. May give it to you now?
Later, when you have gone home. /
wish van would read it. Thn2 ii YOU
will let me want to come TO see you
in your own home tonight. Read that
letter and If you think | am a perfect
fool tell the maid or whoever opens the
door that you will not let me come in.
If you cannot see the situation little
bit the way do, tell her to send me
away"
And Betty did read the letter, and
when the maid at the boarding house
where Betty lived went to the door
she asked the caller at Betty's re-
quest to go upstairs to Betty's sitting
! room.
Betty didn't exactly tell him, but he
knew that she shared his point Of
view, and after he had been there for
little while he and Betty felt as il
they had known each other always
and had always known that just such
wonderful companionship was in
store for them.
STILL" said the overgrown boy. II
know am not at all your ideal. You
have shown so clearly that you don't
| like this lean. long type, who has spent
muscle. | think that is how you put it
once. So persistent have you been in
making all your heroes of a type quite
different from me-a type more like
my colleague with the spectacles-"
Betty laughed and hid her face
against the shoulder of her new.found
protector What could you have
thought ?'SNhe whispered. But to show
you my real ideal l shall let you read
the first version of those stories.
Please don't think was mercenary,
but had to sell the stories and SO
substituted short heroes for tall"
ODD, ISN'T 1T?
oRAN, N. Y.-Hiram Shay, whose