The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-08-06


 .rWer. Dick HoIladay, as I liver was the exclamation of the newcomer. You've dropped into vision at the psychological moment, young scribel It's lucky saw you"
 Holladay spun about, rising to his feet, and his eyes lighted with pleasure as he recognized the speaker While they grasped hands cordially James escort swung around facing her and spoke.
 Miss Brown. permit me to present my friend, Mr. Reginald Mordaunt, the illus trator." To the other he continued, jov iaIly land where has the wanderer come from this time?"
 Just what l want to tell you and what I am so glad to find you about" answered Mordaunt, sliding easily into a chair by the table. You will pardon our talking business, won't you, Miss Brown? I don't want to intrude more than two minutes, and then will leave you alone together to enjoy the music and the breezes.
 'It is a pleasure to have you Jane answered, really relieved that the tense situation between the writer and herself had been so agreeably interrupted.
 Wont you have drink, or an ice, or 8 cigarette, or a something?' asked Hol- laday. "It is fully six months since I've seen you and I must present the 'fatted calf in some way to the prodigal son"
 "Then I'll sip little lemonade" an- swered the other, much to the writer's surprise. You know I've been down in the South Seas collecting materials for some new illustrations I'm working on. It was hard to secure the hard stuff and so I'm out of style in my drinks. And incidentally I've been painting better things.'
 But where do fit into your young life. Mordie7 Of course, I'm delighted to see you, but nobody accepts any of my books and so I have nothing for you to illustrate Tell me the glorious new idear'
 Mordaunt helped himself to light and as he puffed the gray-blue cigarette smoke in little rings onto the night air, he replied:
 well, secured the scenic and costume materials as well a novel in which the locale in the South Sea Islands, Sa- noa. Hawaii and other delightfully."- prim- tive lands where the tailor bills never worry the natives. It was wonderful trip-four months in all During that time I took literally thousands or pho- tographs. kept 8 very careful diary and am just loaded with material for book. "A book Then write it, interrupted Holladay.
 CT write A book?' demanded Mordaunt incredulously and laughing merrily. My boy, can do all kinds of tricks wltr drawing pen, but not with fountain pen, and still less with typewriter That's where you fit in, and it's the chance of lifetime"
 Holladay's eyes sparkled but he waited for the other to continue. Jane was si lent, for the vitality of the two men, as they discussed their professional wori was doubly interesting to her. She hac never met a genuine writer before hei introduction to Folladay, nor, indeed. real. live illustrator.
 'oThis is going to be comparatively easy Dickie" said Mordaunt. "l tried to nne YOU at your old address. Mrs Selden but that female vulture ordered mt away from the door, when I mentioned your name I suppose you didn't pay th' bill before you moved to another board ing house."
 Holladay laughed as he answered .'You're wrong there. I nearly gave tn' old cormorant heart failure when dit actually settle up to the last penny. Bu told her few unpleasant things ant