The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-06-01
Chapter Eight
Alaine And Abner


become An Author.
A good many preparations had
been required but they were fin
ished now All that remained was
to write the novel which was to
bring her fame and fortune-but
especially fame. Mac that is.
certain people would take her
Work seriously when she became
a really noted writer.
Her typewriter stood on a firm
table. She had had to buy that
table since nothing in the house
seemed other than shaky. The
typewriter had new ribbon. On
one side lay a package of yellow
second sheets; on a shelf of her
closet was a box of good sixteen
pound paper" as recommended
by more experienced writers.
Close at hand were a dictionary.
thesaurus and a book of familiar
quotations. She had no intention
Of making use of the last two but
they gave a professional air to
her desk.
All that was lacking now was
the row after row of little words.
tripping along in expert process
sion TO tell her story. AS for the
story itself Bren d a had
worked out real system about
that
On her bed lay a sheet of thin
cardboard. a yard and a half long.
three-quarters of d yard wide. II
was marked off into thirty-two
squares: squares which represent
ed the chapters of her book. In
each square was a brief outline of
what was to be contained in the
chapter it stood for AS for in
stance: Chap. |: Marga h
meets Brian in wood. She Stum-
bles over root and he helps her
home. Dialog develops mutual
friends and interests; ends with
engagement Brian call next day
inquire IOF ankle.
II seemed a very simple and
easy way of writing a book Bren-
da marVeled that she had never
heard of anyone using il before
A square for each chapter. a chap
ter a day; IN thirty-twO days her
book would be done. provided she
felt it did not need revising.
She had made other prepare
tions. too
I'm not to be interrupted when
Tn writing" she said severely at
the table Supposedly she adj
dressed the interested Grenadine
but everyone present realized her
warning included them all. The
fear of interruption is as bad as
the interruption itself. you know.
! must feel I'm safe when I'm
writing"
Adelaide replied innocently:
MAC never minds how many
people interrupt him. Sometimes
! feel guilty. thinking how we use
his room as a gathering place
nights when he's writing"
"Oh, well. mines not creative
work" Mac said comfortably.
Anyhow. I'm used to being in
terrupted at the Office. know
what Brenda means. though. Well
all have TO listen for her type
writer and refrain from knocking
at her door when it's going"
Her door or the typewriter"
Eric inquired frivolouSly He had
made it amply clear that he con-
Sidered it a waste of time for a
girl as pretty as Brenda to spend
her time picking away at type
writer.
Isobel had been none too SYM
pathetic either. In fact, if it had
not been for Grenadines awe
struck tiptoeing past the girls
door. and Adelaide's kindly if alb
sent min d e. encouragement,
Brenda sometimes thought she
would seek other quarters.
'Neighborhood Matter
HOWEVER. here she was; and
H here was Margareth and
Brian. with their program clearly
outlined for them. and neither
one finding a word to say to the
other. Their creator was acutely
annoyed with them This first
chapter. consisting almost entire
~ Of conversation and having lit
tie action. must sparkle! Indeed
she had written at the top of the
cardboard in the first square:
sparklingi But how in the name
of heaven was an author to make
her characters sparkle if they re-
fused even to speak 10 each other7
II was all most diScouraging.
All morning she wrote and tore
up. wrote and tore up. In the af-
ternoon. she laid away one COM
pleted page with sigh. II was
far from being what she wished
but she had to make a start some
where. She was fitting in a fresh
sheet Of paper when upon her
outraged ears fell the sound of a
knock. $50 3sE
"Grenadinel" she. exclaimed
sternly. Didn't I ten you-" ~ 8
But it was Adelaide's plaintive
voice which said: Its I. dearieI
am so sorry to interrupt you but
he said it was important. truly he
did. Brenda! And when Judge
Harper says anything is impor
tant-"
Brenda flung open the door.
Judge Harper? To see me? What
about?"
Her Iandlady shook her head.
Il haven't the slightest idea. He
asked if you were in and / said
yes but you were writing; and he
said it was important and would
you please come down"