Captivating Mary Carstairs

Captivating Mary Carstairs

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Title: Captivating Mary Carstairs
Author: Henry Sydnor Harrison
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CAPTIVATING MARY CARSTAIRS
BY
HENRY SYDNOR HARRISON
WITH A FRONTISPIECE BY R.M. CROSBY
(_This book was first published pseudonymously in February, 1911_)

1910, 1914.

TO NAWNY: HER BOOK

NOTE
_This book, representing the writer's first effort at a long story, has
something of a story of its own. First planned in 1900 or 1901, it was
begun in 1905, and finished at length, in a version, three years later.
Through the two years succeeding it underwent various adventures,
including, if memory serves, two complete overhauling. Having thus
reached by stages something like its present form, it was, in August,
1910, favorably reported on by the publishers; but yet another rewriting
preceded its final acceptance, a few weeks later. Meanwhile, I had
turned to fresh work; and, as it chanced, "Queed" was both begun and
finished in the interval while "Captivating Mary Carstairs" was taking
her last journeys abroad. Turned away by two publishers, the newer
manuscript shortly found welcome from a third. So it befell that I, as
yet more experienced in rejections, suddenly found myself with two
books, of widely different sorts and intentions, scheduled for
publication by different publishers, almost simultaneously. As this
seemed to be more books than society required from an unknown writer,
it was decided to put out the present story--which is a "story," as I

conceive the terms, and not a novel--over a pen name.
At that time, be it said, with an optimism that now has its humorous
side, I viewed myself prospectively as a ready and fertile writer,
producing a steady flow of books of very various sorts. Hence it
occurred to me that a pseudonym might have a permament
serviceability. So far from these anticipations proving justified, I am
now moved to abandon the pseudonym in the only instance I have had
occasion to use it. Writers have sometimes been charged with seeking
to capitalize their own good fortune. My motive, in authorizing the
republication of this story over my name, is not that. The fact is only
that experience has taught me not to like pseudonymity: my feeling
being that those who take an interest in my work are entitled, if they so
desire, to see it as a whole_.
H.S.H.
_Charleston, West Virginia, 16 March, 1914_

CONTENTS
I The Chief Conspirator Secures a Pal
II They Embark upon a Crime
III They Arrive in Hunston and Fall in with a Stranger
IV Which Concerns Politics and other Local Matters
V Introduces Mary Carstairs and Another
VI The Hero Talks with a Lady in the Dark
VII In which Mary Carstairs is Invited to the Yacht "Cypriani"
VIII Concerning Mr. Ferris Stanhope, the Popular Novelist; also Peter,
the Quiet Onlooker
IX Varney Meets with a Galling Rebuff, while Peter Goes Marching
On
X The Editor of the Gazette Plays a Card from His Sleeve
XI Which Shows the Hero a Fugitive
XII A Yellow Journalist Secures a Scoop but Fails to Get Away with it
XIII Varney Meets His Enemy and is Disarmed
XIV Conference between Mr. Hackley, the Dog Man, and Mr. Ryan,
the Boss
XV In which Varney Does Not Pay a Visit, but Receives One
XVI Wherein Several Large Difficulties are Smoothed Away
XVII A Little Luncheon Party on the Yacht "Cypriani"

XVIII Captivating Mary
XIX In which Mr. Higginson and the Sailing-Master Both Merit
Punishment, and Both Escape it
XX Varney, Having Embarked upon a Crime, Finds out that there is