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Show Max Pemberton's First Book. Max Pemberton's first book was called "The Diary of a Scoundrel," and he had the usual trials and tribulations tribula-tions with it. Soon after its publication publica-tion he received a letter from a firm of well-known solicitors complaining that he had grossly libelled a client of theirs. The publisher of the book was in a state of alarm, and Mr. Pember-ton Pember-ton took the bull by the horns and went to see the lawyers. He was at once shown into the principal's room. "Your client claims to be the original of this picture, doesn't she?" the author au-thor asked. "She does," was the reply. "Have you read the book?" continued contin-ued the author. "No, I haven't." "Is there any trouble about the age of my characters and the lady you represent?" was Mr. Pemberton's next question. "Why do you ask?" exclaimed the lawyer. "Because," said Pemberton, "my character happens to be seven years old." The lawsuit fizzled out, but the book did not sell, and Mr. Pemberton declares de-clares to his positive knowledge that there was only one copy ever bought by anybody, and that was by a friend of his. The friend asked the boy in the book shop for "The Diary of a Scoundrel." "Humph!" ejaculated the boy, looking look-ing up. "I suppose that is the personal per-sonal experience of the author, aip't it?" |
