The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-08-24
Hard to Find
a Plot
iIIIIIInIlIlIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILIIIIIIIIInII

By CLARA DELAFIELp

listers, you'll disturb Daddy. He's try
ing to think OF plot for his new
novel"
Cardwell. whose last book, THE
Woman at Bay" had run into hun.
dred thousand, was trying desperately
hard For six weeks he had not writ.
ten line. He had exhausted every
plot In his repertoire. The future
stretched before him, blank. emotion
less. There were no more plots In the
world There was nothing To write
about Starvation faced him and his
family, for plots were his meat and
drink, clothing, rent taxes and the up.
keep of limousine and a two.seater
not to mention tobacco.
His wife came in and Cardwell
looked up in resignation.
I'm so sorry to disturb you, dear"
she said, but Mary's given notice, and
don't know what we're going to do"
"HOw's thatf" asked Cardwell
"Why, II appears that two years ago
she was engaged to young man
named Simpson, who Joined lion.
hunting party in East Africa. He was
supposed to have been eaten by a lion,
but now II turns out that he was res.
cued from the lions jaws by friendly
natives, who took him to their village
They were attacked by hostile tribes,
who took Simpson a captive and wor-
SHIPPED him as god TIL he managed
to get down to the coast. He got a
job on ship bound for Boston, but
she was cast away, and he lived for
months on an uninhabited island, eat.
ing nothing but turtles eggs, till he
was taken OFF by an airplaue that
touched there on its way to the
Antarctic He Joined the expedition
and has just returned"
swell, see II you can get another
girl" said Cardwell, frownlng.
But few minutes later he heard
the voice of Mrs. Blggs, the greatest
bore In the village, talking to his wife
at the door. In few minutes his
wife came in again.
81 am so sorry TO disturb you. dear"
she said, "but what do you think has
happened?s You know Mr.. James, the
grocer? Well, he's inherited fifty
thousand dollars"
slows that?" asked Cardwell.
"Why, 1t appears that when he was
young man he and friend were
rivals for n girl In Stockport. She
married him secretly-it's just come
out-and then her parents whisked her
away and he never knew where she
had gone to. She was shown forged
letter saying that he had died In
fire, and remained true to him all
these years. Last month she was
taken III and came down here to see
the old town before she died, and she
found that Mr.. James had been alive
all the time. She would not make her.
self known to him, because she knew
the hand of death was upon her, but
she left him all her fortune. Isn't II
sad, darllngw
Dreadful" said Cardwell lcily, "bui
such things will happen, you know"
No, the plot would not come. Card.
well put on his hat and went down the
village street TO get his hair cut. The
barber's shop was closed
"You looking for Mr.. Hlnckes, Mr.
Cardwellf" asked Mrs Casablanca.
whose husband kept the fruit store
next door. Hes gone"
Gomez asked Cardwell.
"Yes, gone for good. What do you
suppose has happened? II appears
that his real names Montgomery, and
his fathers banker mp Boston way,
and worth millions. Wen. Mr.. Hinckes
was exchanged in his cradle by
Jealous nurse. and her son was brought
up ns young Montgomery, and broke
his fathers heart last year by becOm-
ing boss of lumber camp instead of
settling down to office work. And now
the nurse has confessed, and they've
traced Mr.. Hlnckes, and he's gone to
Boston to take his rightful place.
Isn't It strange, Mr. Cardwell |"
at is strange" said Cardwell, "but
such things do really happen"
on his way home a. cry of distress
reached his ears. Hurrying round the
bend of the road, he saw Miss En-
than, the squire's daughter trying to
rise. He hurried to her-his wife had
always wanted to know the Enthams.
I'm afraid I've sprained my ankle"
moaned the girl, 81 was in too great
hurry to carry these dainties to poor
old Mrs. jones' She indicated some
calves feet jelly and doughnuts in the
gutter.
Cardwel raised the girl in his
brawny arms and carried her to her
home, twenty feet distant. Declining
to come in, he slouched sullenly home.
ward
"Nlce girl" he thought. "If weren't
married well, | dunno 4.
Oh, shucks I'll have to learn to keep
my mind off things, or I'll never hit
on plot for my next novel"