Mexico Missouri message., 1918-02-21

IleIu. SOuule IL get ueES DUCK, ana
she'll burn It, too," was the laconic
answer.
"You wait until she can't eat a meal,
and then you'll know she's got 1t back.
Many's the time Prudence made me
take medicine, just because / got q
story back. Prudence thought it was
tummyache. The symptoms are a good
bit the same"
SO Carol watched, and sure enough,
there came a day when the bright light
of hope in Comics eyes gave way to
the sober sadness of certainty. Her
light had failed. And she couldn't eat
her dinner.
Lark kicked Carols foot under the
table, and the two exchanged amused
glances.
"Connle's not WELL" said Lark with a
worried air. "She isn't eating thing.
You'd better give her q dose of that
tonic, Aunt Grace"
'Tm not SICK" the crushed young au-
thor protested. 'Tm Just not hungry"
"You can see for yourself" insisted
Lark. 'LOok at her. Isn't she sick 4?
Many's the long illness Prudence
STAYED Off for me by a dose Of this
magic tonic. You'd better make her
take It, father. You can see she's
sick"
you'd better take a little, Connie"
her father decided. "You don't look
very well today"
And the aspiring young genius was
obliged to swallow the bitter dose.
After the meal was over, Carol shad-
owed Connie closely. Sure enough, she
headed straight for her own room, and
Carol, close outside, heard a crump-
ling of paper. She opened the door
quickly and went in. Connie turned,
startled, guilty red staining her pale
face. Carol sat down socially on the
side of the bed, politely ignoring Con-
MES feeble attempt to keep the crum-
pied manuscript from her sight. She
engaged her sister In q broad-minded
and sweeping conversation, adroitly
leading 1t up to the subject Of litera-
ture. But Connie would not be In
weighed into a confession. Then Carol
took wide leap.
''Did you get the story back?"
Connie gazed at her with an awe
that was almost superstitious.
II sure did," she said.
"Hard luck" said Carol, in q matter
Of-fact voice. Lets see it."
Connie hesitated, but finally passed
1t over.
an take 1t to my own room and read
1t, If you don't mind"
More eagerly than she would have
liked Connie to know, Carol curled her
self upon the bed to read Comics mas
terpiece. It was a simple story, but
Connie did have a way of saying things,
and-Carol laid it down in her lap and
stared at it thoughtfully. Then she
called Lark.
Look here" she said abruptly.
"Read this. It's the masterpiece"
She maintained a perfect silence
while Lark perused the crumpled
manuscript.
as 1t any good?" pursued Carol.
"Why, yes, think it is. It's just
like folks you know. They talk as we
do, and-rm surprised they didn't keep
1t. I've read 'em whole lot worse r.
Comics disappointed" Carol said
Il think she needs little boost. be.
lieve she'll really get there If we kind
Of crowd her along for a while. Wen
just copy 1t over, and send 1t out
again."
"And If It comes back?"
swell send it again. Wen get the
name Of every magazine in the library
and give 'em all q chance to start the
newest author on the rosy way"
"1t'll take a lot of stamps"
'That's so. Wen, have half a dol
lar" admitted Carol reluctantly.
After that the weeks passed by. The
twins saw finally the shadow of disap.
pointment leaving Comics face, and
another expression Of absorption take
its place.
"She's started another one" Lark
said, wise in her personal experience.
And when there came the starry rapt
gaze once more, they knew that this
one, too, had gone to meet Its fate But
before the second blow fell, the twins
gained their victory. They embraced
each other feverishly, and kissed the
precious check a hundred times, and
insisted that Connie was the cleverest
little darling that ever lived on earth
Then, when Connie, with their father
and aunt, was sitting in unsuspecting
quiet, they tripped in upon her.
1--WE have something to read to YOU
said Carol beaming paternally at Con
ME. 'Listen attentiyely. Put down
your paper, father. It's important. &c
on Larkie."
my dear Miss Starr" read Lark
1--WE are very much pleased with your
story,"-Connie sprang suddenly from
her chair-"your story, When the Rule
Worked Backwards We are placing
it in one Of our early numbers, and
shall be glad at any time to have the
pleasure of examining more of your
work. We inclose our check for forty
five dollars. Thanking you, and assur
inc NON ~ tho aaff ofo nffO.t with xs,ha Oh