Page:The Mystery of Central Park.djvu/57

Rh "I am deeply obliged to Mr. Maxwell," Richard responded lightly.

"But it was very sad, Dick. I felt unhappy all the evening over it."

"I wish my miseries and wretchedness could have the same influence on you," he broke in with a laugh.

"Don't you want to hear the story? I had intended to tell it to you," she said, half provoked at his lack of seriousness.

"Why, certainly. By all means," he replied, grave enough now. He never joked when she assumed that tone and look.

"When he was an editor," she began softly, "he one day received a very bright poem from a man in Buffalo. He did not know the man as a writer, still the poem was so meritorious that he straightway accepted it, and sent a note to the author enclosing a check for the work. A few days afterwards, the man's card was sent in, with a request for an interview.