side to keep it from shaking, while she
read:

MY DEAR MADAM:

I sincerely apologize for having waited so long before writing you of
the very exceptional reception which your articles have had. I think one
half their attraction has been the exquisite and appealing pictures you
have sent for their illustration. At the present minute they are forming
what I consider the most unique feature in the magazine. I am enclosing
you a cheque for five hundred dollars as an initial payment on the
series. Just what the completed series should be worth I am unable to
say until you inform me how many months you can keep it up at the same
grade of culinary and literary interest and attractive illustration; but
I should say at a rough estimate that you would be safe in counting upon
a repetition of this cheque for every three articles you send in. This
of course includes payment for the pictures also, which are to me if
anything more attractive than the recipes, since the local color and
environment they add to the recipe and the word sketch are valuable in
the extreme.

If you feel that you can continue this to the extent of even a small
volume, I shall be delighted to send you a book contract. In considering
this proposition, let me say that if you could not produce enough
recipes to fill a book, you could piece it out to the necessary length
most charmingly and attractively by lengthening the descriptions of the
environment in which the particular fruits and vegetables you deal with
are to be found; and in book form you might allow yourself much greater
latitude in the instructions concerning the handling of the fruits
and the preparation of the recipes. I think myself that a wonderfully
attractive book could be made from this material, and hope that you will
agree with me. Trusting that this will be satisfactory to you and that
you will seriously consider the book proposition before you decline it,
I remain, my dear madam, Very truly yours,

HUGH THOMPSON,

Editor, Everybody's Home.

Gripping the cheque and the letter, Linda lurched forward against the
window casement and shut her eyes tight, because she could feel big,
nervous gulps of exultation and rejoicing swelling up in her throat. She
shifted the papers to one hand and surreptitiously slipped the other to
her pocket. She tried to keep the papers before her and looked straight
from the window to avoid attracting attention. The tumult of exultation
in her heart was so w