In September, 1902, Edwards made one of his customary "prospecting" trips to New York. If there was anything in omens his stay in the city promised dire things. On the second day after his arrival he went to Coney Island with a friend. Together they called on the seventh son of a seventh son and had their palms read. The dispenser of occult knowledge assured Edwards that the future was _very_ bright, that Tuesday was his lucky day and that Spring was the best time for him to consummate his business undertakings. That day, as it happened, was Tuesday. In the teeth of this promising augury, and within ten minutes after leaving the palmist's booth, some Coney Island "dip" shattered Edwards' confidence in Tuesday by annexing his wallet. The wallet, as it happened, contained all the money Edwards had brought from home, with the exception of a little loose change. This was the second time Edwards had been all but stranded in the Metropolis, and this time the stranding was more complete. When he cast up accounts that evening he found himself with a cash balance of $1.63. Fortunately Mrs. Edwards was not along. He had left her at home with the understanding that she was to come on later. When a writer has come within hailing distance of the bread line there remains but one thing to do, and that is to start the Factory going with day and night shifts. Edwards called on Mr. White, of _The Argosy_, and outlined a serial story. He was told to go ahead with it. For five days Edwards hardly stirred from his room. At the end of that time he had completed "The Desperado's Understudy," and had sold it to Mr. White for $250, spot cash. After completing this serial, Edwards outlined to Mr. White a novelette which would furnish _The Argosy_ with something new in the fiction line. The plot was based on a musical extravaganza which he had written, several years before, in collaboration with Mr. Eugene Kaeuffer, at one time connected with _The Bostonians_. Nothing had ever come of this ambitious effort, although book and musical score were completed and offered to Mr. McDonald of _The Bostonians_ and to Mr. Thomas Q. Seabrooke. Mr. White liked the idea of the story immensely and gave Edwards _carte blanche_ to go ahead with it. This story, "Ninety, North," paved the way for other fantastic yarns which made a decided hit in _The Argosy_ and so pointed Edwards along a fresh line of endeavor which proved as congenial as it was profitable.