The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1919-07-23
CHAPTER XVIII
SUCCESS


best selling book of the season. l
has required five editions of tel
thousand each to supply the de
msnd and 1t is not yet month OF
the market.
"You don't say SOL"
Fortunately do say so ant
might add that 1t has the prospec
OF being the most popular book We
have ever published.
And how about my royalties!
as;,ed Merlin suddenly growing
p.ercenary.
Il was just coming to that. Oh
course you will understand that II
co., a great deal to print, bind and
SavIItise book snd tn" ndvrrtis-
aug is by far the iarg .; part of tile
tiI. You see the small advance
you r.lde was u,sG III in thu print
Sng and we had to draw on our OWE
resources to advertise the book.
See the point?"
Merlin nodded.
well, as we had to spend so
much, of course we did not call on
you for it but had to depend on the
success of the book. Thanks to
the genuine merits of the story and
To eur systematic advertising, IL
ia PROVEN far NOR! OK n SUCCESS
than we had anticipated. But as
90 your royalties. Now we have
sold fifty thousand copies at one
collar per copy-a low initial price
land we believe it reasonable to
allow you ten per cent or i've thou
sand dollars up to the present time
What do you say?"
Il accept" cried Merlin; that
IL, IL yeu will pay me now" ------
''Of course, it is not our custom
a. rav except on the first OF April
acd October, but as your book has
has: such an extraordinary sale
suppose we could remit to you
sooner"
II would appreciate i. if you
T7ould as l am thinking of making
L trip home"
All, home." said the publisher
1 %cnder why had nessr a"kei-
where is youI homer"
''In Neutrality-suspicious. at Devon
dale" answered Merlin; Il came |
here from Colorado where have |
heen working fir the last six years"
Il see you are me of wide ex-
perience. May l ask--arc any Of
the events described ia the book |
duplicates of what really tool: place
In your life?"
Some if them are. Two could
name actually took place and I was
a participant in each incident.
Which two l do not care to name
however" answered Merlin with a
aaugh.
"Ah, / thought as much. No
author can write a ook without put
ing into it some of his own ex-
periences and personality. IN your
case, you have put so much of your
own vivacious and energetic nature
into it that it is fairly bubblins oy-
or with human life. The result is
its large and increasing circulation
The publisher hunted among his
papers, found a check boon and be-
gan to write You may make me a
receipt for five thousand dollars"
ne said, 81 will pay you your roy
alty now"
Merlin thought the last sentence
vas the best compliment he had
paid him.
lie folded the crisp check and
'laced it is his pocket with ieeiing I
II great pride in himself. Thank
'ou, SIR" he said.
81 will send your royalties Or
ober the first, or if you are in the .
ity. you may call for them Only !
Ieep me informed as to There you
'ft- NoUuudy'
Merlin fastened back TO his
house and as luck would 4
ave il met the proprietress as she
'as coming down the steps. She
ried to pass without speaking to o
lin but he halted her.
"Wait, have something to show n
MI" he said, taking the check
rom his pocketbook.
"Oh, don't care to see any of
our literary stuff" she snapped,
4 course, I'd like to keep you as a v
Ioarder but | didn't agree to read
II your productions as a bargain" Z
But this is not one of my liter
ny productions 1t is the result 4
4 that book you were so much ag-
with the other day. Look! |
10 nrndupad the phapk and she I