Smyrna times., 1917-05-09
FINISHING The PLOT
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

ANS' ~ OO VI uouSu ny the IOOL Ol SOIue
pedestrian, picked it up and put it into
his pocket.
In the elevator he took it out and
examined it. 1t was a buckle off a
lady's slipper. He had it in his hand
when he opened the door of his Of
ice, and Miss Purcell looked up with
interest and surprise when he laid it
on her desk. THAT'S what I've been
looking for for six months" he said.
Il don't understand" she answered,
puzzled.
Don't you remember my telling you
that 1 was going to write book just
as soon as had real clew to a plot.
I've always held that there wouldn't
be so much bosh in fiction if authors
would choose real things to work on
instead of making them up. Now, here
have mystery-a real one. To whom
does the buckle belong?"
'Yes, Mr.. Pendery, but that's only an
incident, finding it, not a plot" Miss
Purcell felt it her duty to discourage
any literary attempt on the part of her
employers son, in her employers alb
sence. She had heard so many alter
cations upon the subject. The older
Mr.. Pendery wished his son to devote
all his time and ability to learning the
business, that of foreign trade, while
John, who had been assistant editor
of his college journal, insisted that he
wished to follow in the footsteps of
Kipiing.
mo, it's not a plot, but that will
come. The thing was to get a real
start and now 1 have it. What kind
of person do you think, Miss Purcell,
could have lost that buckle?' He had
drawn up a chair quite close to her
desk.
She picked it up and BOXED it over.
1t was of silver, square and plain, with
fine lines of black enamel tracing on
it that gave it an Oriental look. II
should say" said she, 'that it belongs
to a person who knew something pret-
ty when she saw it and who would be
very much chagrined when she found
it gOne."
'But that doesn't get us anywhere.
Let's leave the lady's feelings out Of
it,"
Miss Purcell was pensive. "She
might be old, of course, for any shoe
dealer would tell you that buckle is
modest enough to be worn by anyone"
Modest! 1 knew it. Well leave
out the old" And John made an
item with his fountain pen in a small
notebook.
"And it is good. It's marked sterling.
The lady would not wear an imita-
| ton"
"Honestw cried John with delight.
Modest and hOnestl Holmes and Le-
cog were not in it with you. Go on ~
"Tm afraid 1 can't. 1 should like to
tell you the lady was beautiful, petite
and clever, but my powers of Observa-
ton fail me here. This buckle could
come off a number seven as easily as q
two, and the lady may be as hOmely as
Three Eyes in the fairy tale. I'm
afraid she wasn't clever, either, or she
would have missed it instantly"
perhaps she did. There was an
immense crowd. 1 was probably right
behind her. wish I'd looked"
"Mr. Pendery, I'd choose a heroine
of my own making. I'm afraid If YOU
go to hunting a perfect one you'll be
like Tom the Water Boy hunting Mr.
Grimes. It will take you over sever
hundred years."
ST have bully idea," cried John
springing up. you'd make a 1n'
critic. I'm going to do chapter ever!
day and let you go over 1t, If you will.
John started his book, much to thu
disgust of his family. 1t was marvel
Gus tale of an ambassadors daughte
who, after discovering the willingness
of the young man (who finds the los
buckle) to follow her to the ends o
the earth, cOnceals her identity ant
uses him to discover state secrets
which she hastens to carry back to he
own country. The young man follows
and then
Up to this time Miss Purcell ha
been a great help. She had hurrie
with her lunch every day and wa
back at the office in time to give hal
hours work to the manuscript. "NON
whatT' asked John, putting the lates
chapter before her one day.
"What do you mean?"
"What shall I do next? I've got tn
poor fellow in a dreadful box and don
know how to get him out. Besides,
find 1 have not made the girl affe'
tionate enough. She doesn't seem
like him, really"
Miss Purcell was aghast. do 20
mean that you started your story will
out finishing your plot first?"
He looked crestfallen. 'Tm afrai
did"
"Then you'll have to begin all owe
again." she said firmly. "That is,
you really still insist on writing
book"
'T hate to be beaten, but I'll 3
blessed If can think of a thing"
'I told you fact was stronger tina
fiction" she reminded him, opening