The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-06-13
HER ADVANTAGE
BY HILDA MORRIS.

Copyright, 1917. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per S~yndicate)
Back in Stanton old Ellis Stevens
bookshop was a famous place, for
friendly gatherings and gossip. Its
hospltable table full of magazines, its
big b~ase-burner with a fire gllmmering
red through the mica windows, its we'll
lined displays of paper, pens and other
literary appliances made 1t a popular
place for evening gatherings. Young
Ellis had been brought up in that
bookshop; he loved the very sight and
touch of a book. So when ambition
drove him to the city with a little cap
ital It was natural that he should start
a bookshOp of his wi This was a
modest place at first, but 1t grew rap
idly, as some shops have a way of do
ing.
There was one young girl who came
into the shop rather often. Ellis had
noticed her once or twlce-she seemed
to be always reading magazines,
though she seldom bought more than
a pen or an eraser. Ellis Stevens,
watching her out a particular morn
ing when there were few other u s
toners, felt a growing conviction that
he had seen that girl before some
where. He stared after her as she
left the shop. Where had he known
that girl? In Stanton? 1t was pos
sible.
The girl did not appear that day,
hnu-ovor md EMlfC nnadn A dfGanunru
She had forgotten something. On the
counter near where she had stood lay
a book, a well-thumbed copy of PEN
dennis. And on its fly-leaf vas writ
ten, "Rose Maxwell. Stanton, New
York"
Rose MAXWELL He remembered
now. She was one of the innumerable
Maxwell family who lived in the old
gray farmhouse out on the Greenville
road. He had seen her in school, per-
haps, or at the church affairs. She
would come back for the book, of
course.
But the weeks went by and Rose
Maxwell did not return TO the shop.
Ii was strange-she had been in the
habit of dropping In every day Oh so,
before.
A month or so later Ellis made a
flying visit to Stanton, and there he
learned that Rose Maxwell had not
returned home. She was writing short
stories, 1t seemed one of her produc-
lions was in last months Spectrum.
Ellis got her address from friends
without any trouble, and hurried back
to town. He meant to find Rose Max
well-of course 1t was his duty to re-
turn that book.
So the following Sunday Ellis Stew
ems, carrying "~Pendennis," called at
Rose MaxwelIs clearinghouse. An
homogeneous landlady met him at the
brown-stone entrance. Miss Maxwell
had moved. No, she didn't know her
present address. No, she couldn't give
him any idea as to where to find her;
she had moved some weeks ago. SO
the following morning this notice APP
peared In the columns of a daily pa
per:
IF the young lady who left a copy
of 'Pendennis' in Stevens book store
at Eighty-third street will come to
claim her property she will learn of
something to her advantage"
1t was rather a remarkable adver-
tisement, but 1t brought results. Rose
Maxwell came. Ellis was busy with
an old gentleman who was fussily
purchasing an edition of the English
poets, and 1t vas some time before he
could speak TO Rose.
After an interminable while the old
gentleman departed, and Ellis APP
preached the girl. She was still read
ing, but she looked up with a smile.
Ellis thought she was pale and a lit
tie thinner. Perhaps she had been Ill,
after all.
"Was II you who advertised my
'P~endennisT" she asked. "It was |
who left 1t here, several weeks ago."
II know it was" he answered. IT
thought you would come back after it.
/ waited and waited before l adver-
tised-because2
"BecauseT" she repeated curiously.
Because l thought I'd find you, Miss
Rose Maxwell. You see / knew you
that Is / remembered seeing you in
Stanton, and / tried all sorts of ways
TO find you. l looked In the directory.
Why, l even went back home to Stan
ton to find your address-but l found
you'd moved"
She was looking at him curiously,
her eyes wide.
"But why should you take so much
troubleT" she asked. 1.-THE book is of
no value"
mo, but-well, / wanted to see you.
1 had to see you again. Don't you
see"
She looked down, her face flushed,
and stroked the edge of the counter.
"Not exactly" she said.
why I-I-~You little Rose Maxwell,
-