The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-07-19

and stephen. his sophomore year at an
end, came home from college. lie had
been invited by some classmates 10
spend a part of his vacation with them
on the Maine coast. and his guardian
had consented to his doing SO. But
the boy himself had something else TO
propose.
SAY he said, "I've been thinking
good deal while I've been away this
last time Now. the way look at it,
this college course of mine isn't worth
while. And the kind of work want
TO do doesn't need university training
I want to be down on the street. as the
governor was. If this rubber company
business. hadn't knocked us out M
tended as soon as was of age 70 take
that seat OF his and start In for my
self. Well, that chance has gone. bus
mean TO get in some way. though
have to start at the foot of the ladder.
Now, why cant leave college and
start now? 1t will be two years gain
ed. won't it," 4e fsna @1@
Captain Elisha seemed pleased, but
he shook his head.
How do you know you'd like itT
he asked. you've never, tried" i
mo, Il never have. but I'll like 1t.
all right. know shall. It's what
I've wanted to do ever since was old
enough to think of such things. Just
let me start in now. right away. and
Ill show YOU 4 I'll make good, You see
If don't"
That evening the captain made a
definite proposal to Stephen. 1t was
briefly that, while not consenting to
the latter's leaving college, he did con-
slider that a trial of the work In
brokers' office might be good thing.
Therefore If tho ..oung man wished he,
could enter the employ of friend OF
Sylvester and remain during July and
August
The novel, the wonderful tale which
Captain Elisha was certain Would
make it's author famous. was finished
that very day in June when Stephen
came back from New Haven.
The advance copy, the first one. was
ready early in September, and the au-
thor, of course, brought 1t Immediately
to his friends They found the dedica'
ton especially interesting. ITO G. w
and e. W., consulting specialists at
the literary clinics, with grateful &C.
acknowledgements" Probably Captain
Elisha was never prouder of anything.
even his first command, than Of that
dedication.
And the story, when at last it appear
ed for sale, was almost from the be-
ginning a success, and, most important
of all perhaps. 1t sold and continued to
SELL There was something In 1t. It's
humanity, its simplicity. It's clearly
marked characters, which made a hit.
Pearson no longer needed to seek pub
fishers; they sought him. His short
stories were bid for by the magazines,
and his prices climbed and climbed.
He found himself suddenly planted In
the middle of the highway to prosper
ity.
The novel being out Of the way and
it's successor not yet far enough adj
vanced in plot or general plan for much
discussion, the literary clinics" were
no longe4 as frequent. But Pearson's
visits to the Warren house We're not
discontinued. All summer long he had
been coming out once and usually twice
a week. Captain Elisha had told him
not to stand on formality, to come any
time. and he did. On most Of these
occasions he found the captain at
home, but if only Caroline was there
he seemed quite cOntented. The cap
tain was planning a glorious Thanks
giving. At least 1t would be glorious
to him. for he intended spending the
day and several days at his own home
in South Denboro. He would not leave
Caroline. of course; she was going with
him. Steve would be there, though he
would not come until Thanksgiving
day itself. Sylvester also would be of
the party. He seemed delighted at the
opportunity. Il Pearson was asked and
had accepted. His going was so far
settled thing that he had commissioned
Captain Elisha to purchase stateroom
for him on the Fall river boat, FOR, OF.
course. the captain would not consider
their travelling the entire distance by
train. A day. or two later Pearson ali!
nounced that he had decided not to
..HeyY' Captain Elisha could scarce
" believe he had heard correctly. "YouI
can't go-to South DenboroT Is
mo" ..--e -,.
"Why not, for the land sakesi Come
heren Let me look at you" ga s-1 4
He took the young man by the arm
and led him, almost by main strength,
close to the lighted window of the sta
ton.