The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-01
EVENING STORY
Henry Makes a Million.
(By H. Thompson Rich.

Charles E. c. Ackerson was an OBJ
scure little author of unpopular flc-
tion-short stories that one thanked
heaven were short. and novels that in
eyitably found their way to the ~ our
pick twenty-five cents counter IN
the basement of department stores.
The difficulty lay not in any lack OF
language, but in a certain dearth of
ideas He would seize hold of a me-
diocre plot some thousand or so other
writer's had sifted exceedingly fine and
go over it once more, with close
tooth comb. Result: dull and tedl-
Gus tale.
Ever hear of him? I doubt it. Any
way you would be unlikely to know
he had daughter. He had tho. Her
name was Allalie, and her mother mad
died when she was very small, leav-
! ing her to her fathers kindly but ir-
regular tutelage. AS a consequence of
which, by the time she reached TWEEN
| ty, she was in possession among other
| things of as vigorous an artistic tenn
| permanent as the most ardent temper
ament fan could desire.
Now an artistic temperament must
have its opposite, and hers was H. II.
| Bennink-tho he pretended he had
I just such a temperament as hers and
swore he was writer. For Benn1nk
was versed in the ways of women.
Moreover, he and the aforesaid
Charles E. c. were friends. This, with
| the fact that he actually was in love
with the daughter Allalie, and you
have a situation that would really
have afforded grounds for fiction.
| Henry" Charles said one day, you
don't write. I'll wager you never sold
a story in your life"
"Hushg' Henry replied, dropping a
slow lid. 'I use a nom de plume
| Whereupon Charles had ceased to be
concerned on that point They un-
| Oh 9TH
a certain marriage took place, the
| better.
But not so AIlalie. She wanted a
real author, not one who used nom de
plumes'' and was mysteriously re-
ticent about his work.
| It's no use, Henry" sic eXclaime d
at length, after he had been coming to
see her for several months, you've
either got to write under your own
name, or go away-for good"
Her words were final, and he knew
it.
Would you marry me if did," he
asked
Yes" she said.
| Now WATCH
Bennink, being a business man. be-
took himself to Charles's inner shrine
and sat with him in solemn conclave
There was bold talk, and mention OF
| sums of money in seven figures. Ar
agreement was reached. Then he re-
| turned to Allalie.
My dear" he said, sit shall be as
you wish 1 shall reveal my identity
at last, in a series of stories which
promise to begin tomorrow"
And when tomorrow arrived the
series was begun.
We must now suppose some months
to have elapsed, and AllaIie to have
become Mrs. Bennink.
Do you remember those stories in
ks Magazine last year, about the
young fellow who succeeded in reliev-
ing Wall Street of so much money
Henry Makes Million the series
was called. Perhaps you have forgot
ten, but the name II. H. Bennink wa:
under the title.
Bennink will never forget. The
memorable day the issue containing
his first story appeared, he had re-
turned from the office (Yes, indeed
| it was quite customary for authors
nowadays to have city officesI) to be
met on his doorstep by an eXultani
wife
Not %. Henry'-'H II. Benninkt' ;
he had laughed, and kissed her
He said it bored him to see his namt
in print But the arrival of each
months issue of ks continued tt
be fraught with keenest interest fol
his wife, and a certain pride in hel
husbe ! grew and grew. Nor was sht
unAuly proud, for the series was 6
great success. .
"A case of getting famous all of 9
sudden" he confided to Charles ont
morning. why, do you know doz-
ems of MAGAZINES are after me fol