The same newspapers that carried the stories about the cave accident that trapped a cave explorer and a brave doctor also carried the stories about their rescue.
Miss Cornelia brought copies of the Toronto newspapers over to Ingleside. The stories recounted how a local physician, Dr. Gilbert Blythe, entered the cave to treat Mr. Collins, and then found himself trapped in the rock collapse.
The newest stories – the stories about Collins and Gilbert's rescue – revealed that Gilbert's medical treatments inside the cave most likely saved Collins' life. Dr. Parker was even quoted in the articles as saying that "Dr. Blythe saved Mr. Collins' life inside that cave."
This was new information to Anne. Anne had long known that Gilbert was a hero. Now, everyone who read the big newspapers of North America knew that Gilbert was a hero.
The most recent story in the Toronto paper included a paragraph about how Gilbert had grown up on a farm and worked his way through college and medical school by teaching, working on the railroad, and of course taking the scholarship that came with the prestigious Cooper Prize.
This most recent of the Toronto articles ended with a disclosure that Dr. Gilbert Blythe was one of the P.E.I. movers and shakers who had influenced the author of that same article to write The Life-Book of Captain Jim.
It was then that Anne looked at the Toronto article's byline. The byline said Owen Ford.
Ms. Cordelia recounted to Anne that on the terrible day that the cave had collapsed, trapping Gilbert and further trapping Collins, Owen Ford telephoned his newspaper contacts in Toronto. A Toronto paper editor arranged for Owen to report on the collapse and the rescue. Other major papers picked up on Owen's by-the-minute coverage. The story caught the interest of mining engineers and doctors from around North America. Several experts rushed to P.E.I. to offer their assistance. Owen Ford may have been the reason that Gilbert and Collins were rescued so quickly and both still alive.
And if Owen had embellished some of the details in his coverage, so what? Anne reflected after Ms. Cordelia left. Gilbert was still alive and he was home in his own bed recovering nicely.
Ms. Cordelia had heard from Leslie that the newspaper editor in Toronto had offered Owen a reporting job. Owen's book editor had also hinted that Owen might be able to pitch a new book about the cave exploring adventures of Floyd Collins.
Anne thought, It would be great if Owen could get a nice advance for a book about Floyd Collins. Then, Gilbert won't feel guilty about sending Owen a bill for Kenneth's medical care. Also, hopefully Gilbert can bill Floyd Collins for the medical care rendered in Four Winds Cave.
Hell, maybe Gilbert could negotiate a cut of the royalties in exchange for giving Owen some first-person testimony for this hypothetical book? Maybe Gilbert could also write a blurb for this new book?
Anne felt a bit mercenary about wondering how much money Gilbert could get from Owen Ford. However, Anne had a feeling that baby Rilla would grow up to be a young woman with expensive tastes. Better start saving now to pay for Rilla's future penchant for hats.
All's well that ends well, Anne thought. But did everything end well?
Anne had seen for herself the misery that Owen's writing career brought him and his family.
At the same time, she still thought about Owen's book launch party for The Life-Book of Captain Jim. All of Owen's friends from Four Winds gathered at the House of Dreams that night. Owen read a book excerpt (apparently the only good excerpt from the entire book) to thunderous applause. Everyone shook Owen's hand and told him that they were proud to personally know a REAL WRITER.
I want that, Anne thought that night. I want all of that for myself.
