The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-05-30
"SUCH A CONTRACT
BY ELVIA A. SpAUL DING.


them Clarice Maxwell, who, if one
judged by her expression, was starting
on anything but a pleasure trip. She
wandered aimlessly up the aisle, sink
Ing into the first vacant seat. Unques-
tionably she was bored at the prospect
of the coming journey, but at her
aunt's urgent invitation she had de-
cided to spend the winter in the city
Her parents had gladly consented, hop
Ing that the change might help her to
forget her failure as an illustrator.
Firmly resolving to forget. her
troubles she opened her magazine and
turned to the big serial of the year,
written by the pc \iar young author,
Winston Arnold. This particular In
stallment seemed to be of a humorous
nature, for before she realized 1t she
had burst into a peal Of laughter.
For several minutes the young man
sharing her seat had been regarding
her not altogether with an air of in
difference. Clarice recovered herself
with q start and turned confusedly to
meet the gaze of pair of humorous
brown eyes.
~Oh, beg your pardon" she STAN
mered, "really, l quite forgot where
was.n
Don't mind me- he replied, smil-
ing, 'sbut 1t must be a very entertain
ing author who can thus hold ones at
tention SO completely"
"Surely you are reading Winston
Arnold's new serial? He does write
so naturally. adore his stories, don't
your
"Er-yes-Tve read most of his writ
lngs," the color quickly mounting to
his cheeks.
And then she added "The illustrat-
ing is wonderful, too. am particular
ly interested in that, as l have attempt
ed something of the sort myself"
Indeed? Do you find the work in
teresting?"
Il love it, she replied earnestly,
'but I have learned by bitter expert
ence that the road to success is a diff
ficult one"
perhaps l may be able to help you
If you would care to let me, as have
q very dear friend who stands quite
high in the literary world"
THANK you, but l couldn't accept
SO much from stranger, she replied
'Ths will be nothing for me to do
and l shall consider it favor If you
accept" he answered.
She sat for moment wondering II
she ought to consider this unusual
| offer. Would her father and mother
| approve of 1T? Yet, after all, one must
! take some chances in life, and especial
! ly one which might lead to her long
| dreamed of success.
| Impulsively she turned and said, Il
will accept your offer and | can never
| thank you enough for your kindness"
AS the train drew into the great ter
| minal, he hastily scrubbed an address
on card and handed it to her. Slow
ly they made their way through the
crowd and hailing a taxi he saw her
safely on the way to her aunt's house.
Within two weeks Clarice found her.
self illustrating the stories of an OBJ
scure author. True, there was no fame
in what she was doing now. Still she
had hopes of something greater, and
all this had come about through the
assistance of Harold Martin, whom she
had met on the train. Oh, yes, it was
Harold now. He certainly was one of
the finest men she had ever met.
And then one day Clarice's phone
rang and Harold's voice said. winston
Arnold's illustrator has met with ia
| tai accident and his next instalment
| has to be Illustrated Immediately.
| have spoken to hin about you, and he
has consented to let you try. Go to
his home at once"
During this speech Clarice was fair
ly gasping for breath. But l don't
| believe / could do it," she said, ner-
vously.
oh yes, you can. Come right along.
| And he smiled as he hung up the re
| ceiver
When she arrived at the author
house, she was met by Harold Martin
I'm so glad you are here, Harold !!
cried Clarice. Somehow l shan't feel
quite so in awe of him if you're there
There's nothing to be afraid of. He's
just an ordinary man like myself"
But just imagine me interviewing
the great Winston Arnold Well--lead
me to him."
He hesitated. 'Clarice, l have some
thing to tell you before"
"Please wait until after this is over,
she answered hurriedly. I'm so ner
vous."
"But-er-I have been deceiving you
Clarice. Winston Arnold and Earolt
Martin are the same man." he blurtet
forth. Il"
"What!" she gasped. "You-Winstor
Arnold !"
Eyes. Clarice, am he"
Somehow not a word could she ut
ter, so he hurried on. Besides that,
want you to sign contract to be my
wife, and illustrate my stories from
now on. Win you?"
After hesitating for what seemed al
eternity to Winston, she managed tt
reply falteringly. "Why, of course, f
you insist
And then he kissed her.