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want to give people an entirely new idea about bookshops。 The grain of
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glory that I hope will cure both my fever and my lethargicness is my
conception of the bookstore as a power…house； a radiating place for truth
and beauty。 I insist books are not absolutely dead things： they are as
lively as those fabulous dragons' teeth； and being sown up and down； may
chance to spring up armed men。 How about Bernhardi？ Some of my
Corn Cob friends tell me books are just merchandise。 Pshaw！〃
〃I haven't read much of Bernard Shaw〃 said Titania。
〃Did you ever notice how books track you down and hunt you out？
They follow you like the hound in Francis Thompson's poem。 They know
their quarry！ Look at that book The Education of Henry Adams！ Just
watch the way it's hounding out thinking people this winter。 And The Four
Horsemenyou can see it racing in the veins of the reading people。 It's
one of the uncanniest things I know to watch a real book on its careerit
follows you and follows you and drives you into a corner and MAKES
you read it。 There's a queer old book that's been chasing me for years： The
Life and Opinions of John Buncle； Esq。； it's called。 I've tried to escape it；
but every now and then it sticks up its head somewhere。 It'll get me
some day； and I'll be compelled to read it。 Ten Thousand a Year trailed
me the same way until I surrendered。 Words can't describe the cunning
of some books。 You'll think you've shaken them off your trail； and then
one day some innocent…looking customer will pop in and begin to talk； and
you'll know he's an unconscious agent of book…destiny。 There's an old sea…
captain who drops in here now and then。 He's simply the novels of
Captain Marryat put into flesh。 He has me under a kind of spell： I
know I shall have to read Peter Simple before I die； just because the old
fellow loves it so。 That's why I call this place the Haunted Bookshop。
Haunted by the ghosts of the books I haven't read。 Poor uneasy spirits；
they walk and walk around me。 There's only one way to lay the ghost of a
book； and that is to read it。〃
〃I know what you mean；〃 said Titania。 〃I haven't read much Bernard
Shaw； but I feel I shall have to。 He meets me at every turn； bullying me。
And I know lots of people who are simply terrorized by H。 G。 Wells。 Every
time one of his books comes out； and that's pretty often； they're in a
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perfect panic until they've read it。〃
Roger chuckled。 〃Some have even been stampeded into subscribing
to the New Republic for that very purpose。〃
〃But speaking of the Haunted Bookshop； what's your special interest
in that Oliver Cromwell book？〃
〃Oh； I'm glad you mentioned it；〃 said Roger。 〃I must put it back in its
place on the shelf。〃 He ran back to the den to get it； and just then the bell
clanged at the door。 A customer came in； and the one…sided gossip was
over for the time being。
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Chapter VII
Aubrey Takes Lodgings
I am sensible that Mr。 Aubrey Gilbert is by no means ideal as the
leading juvenile of our piece。 The time still demands some explanation
why the leading juvenile wears no gold chevrons on his left sleeve。 As a
matter of fact； our young servant of the Grey…Matter Agency had been
declined by a recruiting station and a draft board on account of flat feet；
although I must protest that their flatness detracts not at all from his
outward bearing nor from his physical capacity in the ordinary concerns of
amiable youth。 When the army 〃turned him down flat；〃 as he put it； he had
entered the service of the Committee on Public Information； and had
carried on mysterious activities in their behalf for over a year； up to the
time when the armistice was signed by the United Press。 Owing to a small
error of judgment on his part； now completely forgotten； but due to the
regrettable delay of the German envoys to synchronize with overexuberant
press correspondents； the last three days of the war had been carried on
without his active assistance。 After the natural recuperation necessary on
the 12th of November； he had been reabsorbed by the Grey…Matter
Advertising Agency； with whom he had been connected for several years；
and where his sound and vivacious qualities were highly esteemed。 It
was in the course of drumming up post…war business that he had swung so
far out of his ordinary orbit as to call on Roger Mifflin。 Perhaps these
explanations should have been made earlier。
At any rate； Aubrey woke that Saturday morning； about the time
Titania began to dust the pavement…boxes； in no very world…conquering
humour。 As it was a half…holiday； he felt no compunction in staying away
from the office。 The landlady； a motherly soul； sent him up some coffee
and scrambled eggs； and insisted on having a doctor in to look at his
damage。 Several stitches were taken； after which he had a nap。 He woke
up at noon； feeling better； though his head still ached abominably。 Putting
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on a dressing gown； he sat down in his modest chamber； which was
furnished chiefly with a pipe…rack； ash trays； and a set of O。 Henry； and
picked up one of his favourite volumes for a bit of solace。 We have hinted
that Mr。 Gilbert was not what is called 〃literary。〃 His reading was mostly
of the newsstand sort； and Printer's Ink； that naive journal of the publicity
professions。 His favourite diversion was luncheon at the Advertising
Club where he would pore； fascinated； over displays of advertising
booklets； posters； and pamphlets with such titles as Tell Your Story in
Bold…Face。 He was accustomed to remark that 〃the fellow who writes the
Packard ads has Ral