The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1917-08-30
FINISHING THE PLOT
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
John Pendery saw something shining
on the sidewalk and STOPPING quickly
lest It be crushed by the foot OF some
pedestrian, picked It up and put II into
his pocket.
In the elevator he took 1t out and
examined 1t. 1t was q buckle on a
lady's slipper. He had 1t in bis hand
when he opened the door Of bis Of
fee, and Miss Purcell looked up with
interest and surprise when he laid II
on her desk. That's what I've been
looking for for six months! !" be said.
II don't understand" she answered,
puzzled
'Don't you remember my telling you
that was going to write book Just
as soon as had real ciew to plot.
I've always held that there wouldn't
be so much bosh In fiction II authors
would choose real things to work Oh
instead Of making them up. Now, here
/ have mystery-a real one. To whom
does the buckle belongT
Eyes, Mr.. Pendery, but that's only an
incident, finding 1t, not a plot" Miss
Purcell felt 1t her duty to discourage
any literary attempt on the part Of her
employers sson, 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
Kipllng.
mo, it's not a plot, but that will
come. The thing was to get real
start and now / have 1t. What kind
of person do you think. Miss Purcell,
could have lost that buckleT He had
drawn up a chair quite close to her
desk.
She picked 1t up and looked IT over.
1t was of silver, square and plain, with
fine lines of black enamel tracing on
1t that gave 1t an Oriental look u
should say" said she, that 1t belongs
to a person who knew something pref
ty when she saw 1t and who would be
very much chagrined when she found
1t gone"
But that doesn't get rs anywhere.
Let's leave the lady's feelings out OF
IT,"
Miss Purcell was pensive. "She
might be old, of course, for any shoe
1ealer would tell you that buckle is
modest enough to be worn by anyone"
Modest l knew It, Wen leave
,ut the old" And John made an
tenn with his fountain pen in a small
notebook.
"And II is good. It's marked sterling.
The lady would not wear an imita-
ion."
Honest ~ cried John with delight
Modest and honest Holmes and Lee
.oq were not In 1t with you Go onT
I'm afraid 1 can't. l should like to
ell you the lady was beautiful, petite
nd clever, but my powers Of observa-
ion fall me here. This buckle could
ONE of a number seven as easily as a
wo, and the lady may be as homely as
'hree Eyes In the fairy tale. I'm
fraid she wasn't clever, either, or she
,ould have missed 1t instantly"
"Perhaps she did. There was an
immense crowd. was probably right
ehind her. 1 wish I'd looked"
"Mr. Pendery, I'd choose a heroine
( my own making. I'm afraid II you
o to hunting a perfect one you'll be
Ike Tom the Water Boy hunting Mr..
rimes. 1t will take you over seven
undred years."
II have a bully idea," cried John,
bringing up. you'd make a fine
-itic. I'm going to do chapter every
az and let you go over 1t, II you will"
John started his book, much to the
sgust of his family. 1t was a marvel
is tale Of an ambassadors daughter
no, after discovering the willingness
; the young man (who finds the lost |
1ckle) to follow her to the ends Of |
le earth, conceals her identity and |
,es him to discover state secrets,
llCQ she QdSteuS u Cuiiy DuSA ~ hcA =
vn country. The young man follows, /,
I'd then
Up to this time Miss Purcell had
ZEN a great help She had hurried
It'll her lunch every day and was
ok at the office in time to give half
'ur's work to the manuscript. snow
haiti" asked John, putting the latest
apter before her one day.
"What do you mean?
"What shall do nextf I've got the
or fellow In dreadful box and don't
ow how to get him out. Besides, !
d I have not made the girl affec-
nate enough. She doesn't seem to
e him, really" |
Miss Purcell was aghast. DO you :
an that you started your story with
t finishing your plot first" I
BE looked crestfallen. I'm afraid
nd"
Then you'll have to begin all over
ain," she said firmly. THAT Is, If
4 really still insist on writing a
,k."
I hate to be beaten, but I'll be
xsed II can think of q thing"