The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-10-21
The Review of
Odds and Ends
~
By VINCENT q. PERRY
copyright, 1919 by the Mcclure Nswspa-
per Syndicate.)

writer, Grandon Houston jumped to
his feet with an exclamation Of relief.
BE had finished his weekly Review
OF New Books" and 1t was ready for
the composing room. Never before
had the work seemed 90 tedious as it
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 ones and he gathered them up to
place them in his bookcase. What a
lot Of books he had there and not one
OF them had cost him q cent-4n fact,
he drew 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 1t
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 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
guerite. Could he review the book in
thirty minutes? 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 as he
went. He had passed his decision be-
fore ne was half through, but there
was nothing for 1t 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 1t In
less time than that he thought, as he
pushed some paper into his machine.
Adverse criticisms always took less
time to write than favorable ones and
more could be said in few words of
sarcasm than In many Of praise. He
did not write enough about "Odds and
Ends" to make 1t necessary to re-read
his copy, so when he finished he put
1t with fhe rest Of the reviews and
sent 1t down to the composing room.
enter mis- head, buI ne faugheT II nSIaos
II she had talent a little discourage
ment would merely stimulate 1t, and II
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 q stack Of
notes before her that looked like an
all-night's job.
arm sorry, but you'll have to walt"
she explained as her fingers moved
like lightning. "Tve just got back from
a vacation. II / leave my story to
write until the morning I'll have to
neglect my page and I wouldn't do that
for anything. II the convention had
closed an hour sooner I would have
been able to get this In for the morn
ing, but It will have to 60 over now"
without a word Of complaint Bran
: don sat down and watched her admir-
D ingly. He knew what 1t was to worA
I overtime himself.
i, "There, I'm through" Marguerite
. rose with a triumphant smile ant
gathered up her copy. I've writer
three times as much as I should have
but the convention Is worth It."
s at Is too late to 60 any place now,
J. Brandon smiled good-naturedly.
SVEN 40 home then and I'll max
"a d little supper for us. made som
!. mullins this morning and l have som
fresh ground coffee. You know tn
kind Of coffee can make"
Don't say another word. I'll cav
s. In with hunger before we get there
you do" he warned.
g you'll probably die Of indigestio
v when we do get there" she laughed, a
she took her coat and turban from he
a. locker and prepared to leave.
:. 1t was a coy little supper they Sc
, down to that night In her CHEEKY rool
ID and they both were hungry enough
d do it justice.
K won't 1t be lovely when we ca
have a supper together every night
AT Brandon ventured as he devoured Il
,e- last muffin.
ayes, when we do" she answere
do vaguely.
W "Why do you talk as If 1t were
far away?" he asked, without his usu
IS smile.
Isn't itf
les 81 hope not. It is useless for us
wait any longer. / can more than
lar ford to keep wife and hate to s
you plugging away at the Star"
but love my work." she answere
u 81 want to be a great writer sol