Chapter 22

Ingleside, Prince Edward Island

"Thank you again for having us over to Ingleside on such short notice," Owen said. "I know that this visit was rather abrupt."

Anne said, "Mr. Ford, Leslie said something about unexpected business on the island."

Gilbert said, "Is this about the cave book, Ford?"

"Er - not exactly," said Owen Ford. "Although, this is a writing-related matter."

Owen took a sip of the coffee that Susan had offered him (no spirits for Owen Ford now) and continued.

"So, I have another work off at the publishers while I work on my cave exploration book. A fiction narrative about the working class in Nova Scotia. My publisher - Charles L. Webster and Company - summoned me to New York for an urgent meeting. They questioned me about my source material."

Leslie grasped Owen's hand.

"The thing is my source material was actually a diary of Mrs. Blythe's."

Anne gasped.

Gilbert said, "You gave Ford your diary, Anne-girl?"

Anne said, "I did nothing of the sort!"

Owen said, "Now, now. Mrs. Blythe most certainly did NOT give me her diary. I - I removed it during a visit to Ingleside."

Gilbert said, "You stole my wife's diary, Ford?"

Owen said, "I - I did remove the diary from the premises, yes."

Gilbert said, "So you stole my wife's diary."

Anne said, "Gilbert! Sit down!" Anne grabbed Gilbert's arm, tugged him back to his chair.

Owen said, "Charles L. Webster agreed not to sue me. On one condition. They still want to publish part of the work that I sent them. I must secure written permission from Mrs. Blythe to publish the work. She would receive an authorship credit and compensation, of course."

Gilbert said, "Oh, is that right? And what if she refused? What if her husband refused to let her give permission?"

Owen said, "Dr. Blythe! You don't understand. Charles L. Webster and Company isn't owned by Charles Webster. The company's owned by Mark Twain. Mark Twain was Charles Webster's uncle. They went into the publishing business together. Then Twain fired Webster. Twain took over the whole operation. Charles Webster the man died a few years later. The whole thing ruined Webster's life."

Owen stopped, looked at Leslie, then continued.

"Dr. Blythe, Mark Twain is the actual publisher who accused me of plagiarizing Mrs. Blythe. Twain ruined Charles Webster's life. And they were kin! Do you know what will happen if Mark Twain sues me? It will ruin me. It will ruin Leslie and Kenneth and Persis. Dr. Blythe, I am completely at the mercy of you and Mrs. Blythe right now."

Gilbert said, "Show Mrs. Blythe and me the proposed terms."

Owen reached into his valise, pulled out a file.

"Here are the monetary terms being proposed. Mrs. Blythe would be credited as a co-author. Mr. Twain said to tell Mrs. Blythe off the record, he believes that Mrs. Blythe did most of the work. However, Twain decided to keep my name as a co-author for marketing purposes. Twain said that unfortunately, my name has more recognition. Twain also said to tell Mrs. Blythe that if she encounters any critic who doesn't like any part of the work, she can tell said critic that Owen Ford wrote that part of the book."

Anne looked at the proposed financial compensation. It would be enough to "pay back" Diana for the money that Anne inherited from Aunt Josephine Barry. And then some.

Anne said, "Well, I would have to discuss this with the doctor."

However, Anne thought, "I'll do it. I'll sign this thing."