The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-03-16


writer, Grandon Houston jumped to
his feet with an exclamation of relief.
He had finished his weekly Review
Of New Books" and 1t was ready for
the composing room. Never before
had the work seemed so tedious as 1t
had that week. The reading had all
been heavy and even a reviewer of
books gets tired of heavy reading
sometimes. But the books were valu-
able one and he gathered them up to
place them in his bookcase. What q
lot of books he had there and not one
of them had cost him a cent-in fact,
he drew a salary for reading them. As
he put the last book in place among
the others he looked at the title and
gave a gasp of annoyance. Somehow
that was one he had overlooked and 1t
was necessary to write a review of it
before the days work was completed.
"Oh, / can slip it in among the re-
views next week" he exclaimed, as
he opened the cover to take a peep
inside, but the first thing that faced
him was a note from the editor, pinned
to the title page, requesting a review
for that week. He took out his watch
as he sat down at his desk again
1t just lacked thirty minutes of the
time he had arranged to meet Mar
g%uerite. Could he review the book in
thirty minutes2 He looked 1t over and
decided that he could.
To begin with, the title, "Odds and
Ends" did not impress him very much.
The authoress, Winifred Shelton, was
unknown to hint was her first book,
no doubt, but that didn't soften his
heart. The publishers were well
known, but they had published failures
before. He SKINNED over the pages,
drinking in snatches of the plot is he
went. He had passed his decision be-
fore he was half through, but there
was nothing for it but to read to the
end. AS he closed the book he looked
At his watch. Twenty-Five minutes of
the time had passed and 1t would take
him the other five to write the review.
If he hurried perhaps he could do it in
less time than hat he thought, as he
pushed some paper into his machine.
Adverse criticisms always took less
lllhC ~ WlAlC tiiuh LdNOlubiC OhC LIN
more could be said in a few words of
sarcasm than in many Of praise. He
did not write enough about "Odds and
Ends" to make ii necessary to re-read
his copy, so when he finished he put
it with The rest of the reviews and
sent it down to the composing room,
The thought hat what he had written
would bring pain to the new writer did
enter his head, but he laughed it aside
If she had talent a little discourage
ment would merely stimulate it, and If
she hadn't then she would get discour-
agement sooner or later anyway, he
reasoned.
After climbing up three flights of
stairs, hurrying to arrive as near the
appointed time as possible, Brandon
painted his way into the reportOrial
room of the Daily Star. Thank good
ness, Marguerite had waited for him
One look at her, though, told him his
hurry had been unnecessary. She was
busily tipping and there was a stack OF
notes before her that looked like an
all-night's job.
I'm sorry, but you'll have to watt
she explained as her fingers moved
like lightning. "rve just got back from
a vacation. If 1 leave my story tc
write until the morning I'll have tc
neglect my page and l wouldn't do that
for anything. If the convention haG
closed an hour sooner 1 would have
been able to get this in for the morn
ing. but it will have to go over now"
Without a word of complaint Bran
don sat down and watched her admir-
ingly. He knew what it was to work
overtime himself.
"There, I'm through" Marguerite
rose with a triumphant smile ant
gathered up her copy. "Tve writer
three times as much as I should have
but the convention is worth it."
SIT is too late to go any place now
Brandon smiled goo~d-naturedly.
swell go home then and I'll make
a little supper for us. l made som
mullins this morning and / have SOM
fresh ground coffee. You know the
kind of coffee 1 al make"
"Don't say another word. I'll cav
In with hunger before we get. there Il
you do" he warned.
you'll probably die of indigestion
Nhen we do get there" she laughed, as
she took her coat and turban from hel
locker and prepared to leave.
1t was a coy little supper they sal
down TO that night in her CHEEKY DON
and they both were hungry enough tC
do it justice.
won't it be lovely when we cal
have a supper together every night?
Brandon ventured as he devoured the
last muffin.
Eyes, when we do" she answered
vaguely.
"Why do you talk as if it were 81
far away?" he asked. without his usua
smile.
isn't it,"