The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-03
tc0ntlnued From Previous Issue.l

Copyright by Al Jennings, 1879
continued From Previous Issue.)
CHAPTER LXu.
A hastily scrawled note accompanied
q formal invitation. II was a bid TO
the wedding Of William Sydney Porter
and Miss Sallie Coleman, Of Asheyile,
Bill Porter, the prowler. the midnight
investigator, the deyil-may-care Bohe-
milan was going to squeeze himself into
the tight cut habit Of the benedict.
When ! read that note | felt as though
l had been asked TO a funeral.
II wat more than two years since |
q seen Bill. Son Of impulse and within
that he was, who could figure this
new venture Of his?
Pack up your toys, colonel. and come
70 tns SHOW; II won't be complete
Tried to Sen Friends Stories.
For months / had been planning an
otaer TRIP 70 New York. wanted TO
encouraging me. That was one glo-
rious trait In him. II he saw a spark
Of talent In another he would fan II
with praise and encouragement.
a thousand suggestions he had given
me. Short stories that ] had written,
he had taken personally to editors and
tried to make a sale for me. Another
trtp to New York. another joyous pill
grimage into the Mystic Maze with the
magician Of Bagdad at my side-tf ]
had 2 TALENT II would surely DO kind
The little note I held in my hand
was like q heavy wet blanket on the
fire Of that hope. My wife and / went
TO the finest store In Oklahoma and
bought some kind Of 2 cut glass water
set, sent the requisite '~'congratula-
tionR and best wishes" There ends
the Greatness Of Bill Porter, / thought.
l was mistaken.
Toward the middle Of December Por-
ter returned a rejected manuscript to
Don't Give Up Porter's Advice
Don't give up. colonel. I'm sure you
could make good at short stories. Come
TO New York. Don't build any high
hopes 81 your book. Just consider
you're on q little pleasure trip and talk
Ing II along as u side line, Mighty few
manuscripts ever get to be books and
mighty few books pay. Let me know
arrive. Louisa Is In Grand Rapids.
Maybe he will run over for a day or
Less than a week later I was In New
York. AZ soon as ] arrived / called him
did not seem like the old BIZ to me.
He wal busy on q story.
iii call o up and let you buy the
drinks as soon al the MSS. Is fin
Porter was an earnest woker. Pleas.
ure never lured him from hts desk, per-
haps because he found such a Joy in
writing.
A week passed. / did not hear from
him.
1 maud GAathApn rutfA - 4 fh0sNnAt ttnt1I
has put the convict number behind him.
his may help him to forget. He prob.
ably doesn't want any red-headed re-
minders bobhing around"
As usual J had to take back the hasty
judgment.
Bill Wants to See You.
Richard Duffy came over for me one
"Bili wants to see you. We're all
going to dinner together"
We got to the Caledonia, where he
still kept his study. Porter was at MS
desk, dashing In a last few periods. He
looked tired, as though he had been
"Tye been working like the devil,
Bill. I've been feeling very tired. Join
me In a drink. Will that make amends"
II don't know that any amends are
necessary" felt irritated and showed
i: .. ON the way to to. MoSGu,n's we
arrangement. But after the dinner the
old, sunny familiarity melted the cold
ness.
ia like . to meet my wife. col
Somehow / felt the words we're not
the truth, ! all but said ! didn't want
to see her. I felt that she would not
welcome an ex-convict,
The .gracionsness of Southern hos
pitality dispelled my fears. We reached
Porter's apartments about 1890, an
greeted Us with great cordiality, She
had been the first love of Porter III
his boyhood days.
To admit the least, / was slightly
"teed," Perhaps she did not observe 4,
approval in her manner.
Relieved, But Not Convinced.
She served us refreshments and chat
ted with a pleasant ease. was re-
lieVed, but not convinced.
Toward midnight Duffy and ! start
ed to leave, Bill took up his hat,
Why, you're not going, too, are you,
Mr.. Porter the LADY said.
He stopped for a moment to explain,
Duffy and J ,walked, up the street;
wife 1t puts an end TO his l~iberty-his
wanderings," whispered loudly to
Duffy, Just as Porter tapped me on
the shoulder. He smiled expansively,
irrepressibly, as a boy might have,
You're not pleased with my choice?"
TIN not to be pleased ! fired back.
l intended walking on with Duffy.
Porter iuterfered.
Come this way with me. We may
not soc much more Of each other"
We went down to the Hudson and
sat on the docks, The lights OF all
New Jersey, like a million stars, like
a hundred milky ways, sparkled in the
water. Tho big steamers, black. power
full, were moored in the slips. Tug
boats and ferries skimmed-myJtir, en-
chanted barks-up and down the river.
Bills Marriage Discussed.
We talked earelessly, Porter started
several times to SPEAK seriously and
broke off, Another mood seized him |
and he looked at me ~ndulgently and
smiled.
You're dissatisfied with my matri.
monial venture?'
IT'S the silliest thing you ever did
'She Is a most estimable young lady
Porter seemed to be enjoying my re-
That may be. but what did you want
| with here"
II loved her.
",oh, my God! That overs a multi
tude OF sins
Porter was a born trcubadour. He
had q h~appy-go-tucky heart, for all that
Il was crowded down with sadness, ri
felt that he had made a fatal mistake |
to take upon himself obligations that |
his nature made him untitled to meet |
Colonel, I've wanted YOU opinion, |
I've wondered II I acted honorably."
Porter Soul Of Chivalry.
Porter was the soul Of chivalry. For
all that he saw In Hell's Kitchen, his
reverence for woman remained. I've
married a highhred woman and brought
all my troubles upon her. Was II
| right"
Strange blend of impulsiveness and
honor, the instructive nobility In Por- |