The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-07-03
MAR1HA's MENU
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS.


Martha was sitting in the small res
taurant on upper Broadway having
luncheon when a plot registered itself
IN her conscious mind. It was not an
extraordinarily good plot, yet, since
she mad 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 a 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 selection and on the back
he found Martha's hurriedly written
plot for a story.
''This is more than I prayed for"
murmured the young man, and pro-
ceeded to read all that he could of
Martha's almost illegible writing "a
story to read and good lunch all for
forty cents.''
He had scarcely finished the story
and decided that it wasn't bad, but it
could be wonderfully improved, when
stormy-eyed girl came into the res
taurant and stood beside him. LOOK
ing up, John Durant questioned with
his eyes.
MAY I please have the menu card
you just put in your pocket?" Martha
demanded. Il left it here but mo-
ment ago.
"Sit down." suggested Durant and
stood up as if welcoming friend. II
want to talk to you about the story
If it really belongs to you"
eyes, thank YOU" she said in an
swer to his request that she join him
in cup of coffee.
"NOw," Durant said, when he had
Martha comfortably established behind
the coffee and small Sherbet, II
want to tell you that while the story
written on this menu is rather we'll con-
ceived l can give you far better mate
rial for the ending" He proceeded to
outline the story, but brought won
derful climax into it that quite aston
ished Martha.
ooh! That is heaps better" she ex-
claimed enthusiastically.
Rather good" assented Durant,
thinking Of the eyes. "NOw if you
write that story as / have outlined it
and send it to the Sunlight Magazine
feel reasonably sure that you will
get nice check in return. 1t looks to
me as if that story is just in their
line.'
ut is very good Of you to suggest the
Sunlight. I hadn't quite hoped to land
a story there. Do you know who the
editor is?'
ellis name is -" Durant pondered
moment, "Durant. John Durant.
Send it to him personally. You'll get
better attention."
Martha had arisen and her hand was
extended to him. IF / sell the story J.
should like to know my collaborator's
name" she said.
81 prefer my name to remain a Sc
cret. You might be tempted to hurl
me into the limelight of fame along
with yourself. I will watch the Sun
light Magazine, however, and take
great interest in seeing the story
there" He dismissed Martha with a
slight inclination Of the head.
Martha was torn between pique and
elation over the story. She went d.
rectly to her studio and worked the
rest of the day. When the story was
finished Martha reread and polished
1t, made an extra copy and sent it to
the editor Of Sunlight.
Ten days passed before Martha
heard from her story. Then she re-
ceived a note saying the editor wanted
to speak with her about a few changes
in the story and she went to the Office
of the Sunlight Magazine.
John Durant arose from the editorial
chair to greet her. Martha was SO TAX
en- aback when she recognized the
young man Of the restaurant that q
quick color sprang into her cheeks.
"Oh!" she exclaimed. $50 you are
John Durant!'' She felt intensely fool
ish after that remark.
II knew I would meet you sooner or
later" said Durant, with deliberate
meaning behind his serious eyes "That
was my reason for Withholding my
name from you" He looked long and
frankly into Martha's eyes. "And now
for business" he said with a smile that
she found delightful; "this story is
worth two hundred dollars to me, if
YOU are willing to make some slight