The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-05-29

"WEB OF GOLD"
BY IDA w. GOULD.

SFSSSSSeS~SvGtNSS~R SN6P
TRY this man on the phone, for his
full name, will yoG?'
The young woman took the receiver
and informed the man at the other end
of the line that the business firm OF
S. & Co. requested his full name.
She explained that the information was
necessary, as the firm would soon pub
lish a list of beneficlaries, etc.
"A---- B D; get itT
please spell the middle name"
D."
Thanks; please give me the date of
your BIRTH"
a ghost of a satirical laugh ema-
mated from the receiver.
"Why, I'll have to look it up, madam.
It's on the spoon given by u fond
aunt, and Eve misplaced them both.
Sorry. Goodby."
Rapidly turning the pages of who's
Who in America" She found D,
A b.; b. Al; author OF 1.-THE
Web OF Gold"
Annoyances encompassed D
that day The Office boy went to
game. His stenographer went home
early, i'll. The ice man forgot to fill
the ice box. SO the author Of the best
seller closed his Office early and sought
diversion at cafe.
Some days later he decided to re-
visit M. 1t was five years since
his last visit to the rambling old
house empowered in trees. 1t was I'M
der new management, and an impulse
seized D to assume the name Of
Adam b. l.. His name was quite
fresh IN the minds of novel readers,
SO, as he had gone there to recuper-
ate, he felt quite justified in practlc-
ing the small deception The village
was so far inland that the chances Of
detection were slight.
He abandoned himself the next week
to outdoor life, fishing, tramping
through woods filled with pines where
he laid himself on the fragrant earth
and dreamed Of plots and heroines for
his next good seller.
At table he met an elderly lady, en-
gagged to chaperon a group of young
ladies. She had come in advance to
arrange for their stay. On the day OF
their expected arrival Mr.. A. B.
L. purposely absented himself
tramping six miles to a nearby noun
tain, where, ut the only house, he ate
gladly the food offered him. Pushing
on to the mountains top, he found him
self in the direct path of a terrible
storm.
He resumed the descent, slipping
and stumbling. BY the time he had
covered the six miles to the village he
was aware that it was long past mid
day. T. saw to his dismay that
a group of girls blocked his entrance
at the front porch. Before he could
decide whether to march boldly past
them, vibrant voice called: GO
round the back way, man; the land
lord will give you something to eat"
He knew he must look bedraggled, but
he did not like to think he resembied
the genus tramp. He heard their
laughter as he hurried to the side door
and escaped up the back stairs.
The elderly chaperon was on hand
to introduce him. After several days
association the little party dropped
easily into the habit of after-dinner
discussions. one evening the talk was
Of books.
Miss b, the same young lady
who weeks before had Intercepted
D., seemed to be the most active
in discussing books.
In vain the author racked his mem
DRY for Il suggestion as to why her
voice reminded him of another voice.
"NIr T., tell Us what you think
Of THE Web of Cold"
81 have reason to think highly Of the
book, and I know it has proved
small gold mine to the writer"
"Really? Then you know him"
chorused the others,
"Ie Is my best friend spend more
time with him than with any other
man"
HAS he red hair and does he wear
red tles?"
mo; nor rings on his toes" said
D. dryly. "Why?
because I asked him tfor the in
surance people, to tell us when he was
born. He evadcd me with the silliest
answer. I'm on spoon said he but
I can't find it Just now"
81 think he affects oddity,' said the
elderly lady. drop The Web of
Cold and come in for game of
bridge, everybody"
Our author returned from tramp
one afternoon and discovered Miss
b alone, reading "Ihe Web Of
Gold"
"The same book, Miss b? You
must discover fresh charm. May
ask what 1t is?'
"This is one. Shall I read it?'
"Please."
"A truly lovely sentiment" said the
girl, colorlng under the mans steady
gaze. "But I'll wager the author new
er fell in love with a plnk-and-white
beauty"
"Contrariwise, he has" replied
D. "But he has never felt sure
until now that he might tell her So"
"You mean" stammered Miss
b, dropping the book and half
rising.
"That you are the girl I love, and