hey were, seemed to interest
European audiences and critics. Some of my novels have strangely enough
brought in royalties, despite the publishers! But, I became satiated
with life in England and on the Continent. I came here because I felt
that I needed life in a younger and newer country. I needed an emotional
and physical awakening."

"You have not wasted any time in drowsiness since you reached America."

"No--and all because I went to Holloway's office that fateful morning,
before I saw any one else in New York, to ask about a play which he is
to produce this spring. I confess that it was my first experience as an
actress. Will you forgive my deception?"

Shirley nodded, as he studied the animated face with a new interest. He
admitted to himself that Holloway's prediction had come true--he had met
his match.

"And so, my dear Helene (for such I shall always call you, whether your
really, truly name be Mehitabel, Samantha or Sophronisa) you came
here, went through all these horrors without a complaint, crushing
the independence of my confirmed bachelorhood for the sake of what we
newspaper men call copy?"

Helene nodded demurely.

"Yes, but it was such wonderful 'copy,' Monty boy."

The criminologist scowled over his cigarette, yet he could not feel as
unhappy as he felt this defeat should make him.

"When will the 'copy' be ready for publication, my dear girl. It would
be most interesting, I fancy."

Helene caught his hand, drawing it toward her throbbing heart. Her wet
lips were almost touching his ear, as she confided, whisperingly,
with the blue eyes averted: "Only published in editions de luxe: some
bindings will be with blue ribbons, some with pink. All of them with
flexible backs and gloriously illumined by the Master's brush. The
authors' autographs will be on every copy to prove the collaboration,
and every volume will be a poem in itself.... But there, Montague dear,
I am a novelist--not a fortune-teller!"

"How can I forecast the exact dates of publication?"

End of Project Gutenberg's The Voice on the Wire, by Eustace Hale Ball

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VOICE ON THE WIRE ***

***** This file should be named 5672.txt or 5672.zip *****
This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/5/6/7/5672/

Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer

Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
will be re