It should be something real thrilly, so the people will rush madly to all the bookstores to buy it.
It should have a beautiful girl, and at least two handsome men,--one with all the human virtues, and the other with all the arts of the devil and the cruel strength of the savage.

And--I think some Indians and outlaws would add several dollars' worth of thrills; or else a ghost and a haunted house.

I wonder which would sell the best?
Indians could steal the girl and give her two handsome men a chance to do chapters of stunts, and the wicked one could find her first and carry her away in front of him on a horse (they do those things in books!) and the hero could follow in a mad chase for miles and miles-- "But then, ghosts can be made very creepy, with tantalizing glimpses of them now and then in about every other chapter, and mysterious hints here and there, and characters coming down to breakfast with white, drawn faces and haggard eyes.

And the wicked one would look over his shoulder and then utter a sardonic laugh.

Sardonic is such an effective word; I don't believe Indians would give him any excuse for sardonic laughter." She swung down from the saddle and led Pard into his stall, that was very black next the manger and very light where the moon shone in at the door.