Jobson's Book.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81823, 16 August 1906, Page 4

Jobson's Book.

Malcolm Jobson's "The Mystery of the Keep" had net been 6e!ling well, in spile of judicious advertising. It wasn't because- it was not sufficiently s'irring and adventurous. It was all that, yet the novel reading public did not seem to crave it. This was a fact which bothered Jobson and had him thinking seriously on this particular e%"ening. Suddenly his thoughts took such an acute turn that they left him staring vacantly at the ceiling and caused him to let his cigar go out. He stared for an hour and then he went to bed with the air of a man who has nude up his mind to do something. Two days afterwards he received a note from his publisher. Would be kindly call around? He did. The publisher handed him an envelope containing £2OO. " Novel selling at last ? " asked Jobson. "Worse than ever," said the publisher. "What'stha money, then?" asked the author. "Well, it's the funniest thing I have known in the business. An old fellow writes in that he knows all about that 'keep' of yours and appreciates how you have clung to the truth in writing of its mystery. He sends this as a token of his appreciation." "Funny old guy," eiclaimed Jobson * What's his name ? " "Doesn't give any name. That's the funny part of it." " Well, of course I can't take the money.'' "I don't see why not. It's yours. V.'e don't know the man's name. Do you think we can take it? " "That's true," replied Jobson, seeming to become convinced gradually. " 1 guess there isn't any particular reason why I should not take it—at least until we can "tind the man and give it back to him." ,"Take my advice," said the publisher, " and don't try to find him. He knows ■hat be is doing, and ii he appreciates your

ftuM itory so muela that 1* wants id pay £230 for the pleasure of reading it, Jut him." " Possibly you're right—at least until I have seen the man." The Publisher hesitated and started to Bpeak. / "If you want to find him, Mr. .lobson," he said at last, " the best way would be to have something printed about this in the papers." " Couldn't think of it," declare! the auther immediately. " It would look too cheap —advertising, you know." "That isn't the right way to look at it. This story is true, and you shouldn't let false scruples stand in the way." " Well, you can do as you like about that matter," replied Jobson, leaving. If he had been followed he would have been seen to go directly to a bank and deposit the £2OO, which his bank book showed balanced with a withdrawal made ten days before. The story of the old gentleman and his Appreciation of " The Mystery of the Keep " was pretty generally advertised in newspaper stories for the next few days. The Bales of the " Mystery " took an immediate jump. A3 soon as people realised that some one knew all about the mystery which wat told so thrillingly, they wanted the book.