The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-09-13

0Ax8 WSIs
"You walt until she can't eat q meal.
and then yourl know she's got It back.
Aany's the time Prudence made me
take medicine, Just because I got q
story back. Prudence thought It was
tummyache. The symptoms are q good
bit the same"
So Carol watched. and sure enough.
there came q 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
glanceA.
'Connie's not well." said Lark with q
worried air. "She isn't eating . thing.
You'd better give her q dose Of that
tonic, Aunt Grace"
I'm not SICK" the crushed young au-
thor protested. I'm Just not hungry"
you can see for yourself" insisted
Lark. "Look at her. Isn't she sick1
Many's the long illness Prudence
staved of 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 q 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. a guilty red staining her pale
face. Carol sat down sociably on the
side Of the bed. politely ignoring Con-
MES feeble attempt to keep the crum-
pied manuscript from her sight. She
engaged her Gister In broad-minded
and sweeping conversation. adroitly
leading 1t up to the subject Of litera-
turs. But Connie would not be in
veigled into q confession. Then Carol
took . wide leap.
did you get the story backT
Connie gazed at her With an awe
that was almost oupers1t10uA
II sure did" she said.
"Hard luck" said Carol. In Q matter
of-fact voice. Lets see It."
Connie hssitated. but finally passed
II over.
"I'll take It to my own room and read
It, II 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. n was 4 simple story. but
Connie did have way Of saying things.
and-Carol laid It down in her lap and
stared at 1t thoughtfully. Then she
called Lark.
Look here" she said abruptly.
"Read this. It's the masterpiece"
She maintained perfect silence
while Lark perused the crumpled
manuscript
'Is 1t any goodt' pursued Carol.
"Why. yes. I think 1t is. It's just
like folks You know. They talk ~ We
do, and|Tm surprised they didn't keep
1t. I've read 'em a whole lot worse I"
Comics disappointed" Carol said.
IT think she needs little boost. be-
lieve she'll really get there II we kind
of crowd her along for while. Well
just copy 1t over, and send II out
again."
"And II It comes back7''
s'WeT send 1t again. Wen get the
name Of every magazine In the library,
and give 'em all a chance to start the
newest author ON the rosy way"
"It1l take q lot Of stamps"
'That's 80. Well. I have half q dol
lar" admitted Carol reluctantly.
After that the weeks passed by. The
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
little darling that ever lived on earth.
Then, when Connie, With their father
and aunt, was sitting In unsuspseting
quiet, they tripped In upon her.
I'VE have something 10 read to you,"
said Carol beaming patesnally at Con-
ME. Listen attenuvely. Put down
your paper, father. It's important. Go
ON Larkie."
my dear Miss Starr" read Lara.
1--WE are very much pleased with your
story,"-Conuis sprang suddenly from
her chair@"your story. When the Rule
Worked BackWards.' We are placiag
It In one Of our early numbers, ard
shall be glad at any time to have the
pleasure Of examining more Of your
work. We inclose Cur check for forty
nvs dollars. Thanking you, and assur-
ing you o1 the satisfaction with which
- havo paaA vnmP afnry I am