A BEARTOWN MYSTERY
"I should like a moment to scan the
contract," said the scholarly, white-haired man who
called himself Pierpont Wordsworth. "If there is a
major point of disagreement, I should prefer to know it
now."
"Of course," agreed Baldwin, of Beartown
Publishing. As the Beartown Constable watched from the
leather office couch, the publisher passed a contract of
three pages across his desk to Wordsworth.
The Constable observed Wordsworth's eyes skim the lines
of small type. The pages of the contract were observed
rapidly.
"It appears to be satisfactory," said
Wordsworth, putting the contract into his briefcase. I
shall have to read it carefully when I am at home.
Tomorrow you will have my answer."
Smiling, Wordsworth rose, shook hands, and departed.
"All right," the Constable said to Baldwin.
"Why did you ask me to sit in on a book contract
discussion?"
"Eighteen years ago," replied Baldwin, "Pierpont
Wordsworth wrote a masterpiece on the English language.
It has become the standard text on the subject. No one
ever saw him, however. He was a man of mystery. For the
past ten years there have been rumors that he was in
Canada working on a new book, better than the first. A
month ago rumors started that the new book was done, but
that Wordsworth had died just a few days after completing
it. The man who presented himself to me just now has the
manuscript - and it's exceptional! But is he the real
Pierpont Wordsworth? Or is he an imposter trying to
profit from another man's manuscript?"
"An imposter!" answered the
Constable without hesitation.
How did he know "Wordsworth"
was an imposter? Check the next issue of Beartown
News for the answer.
LAST ISSUE'S SOLUTION: Jessie
Lawson could not have been in the Beartown Savings Bank
May 30. May 30 is Memorial Day and all banks are closed.
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