Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-09-10


The maid brought in letters while the
soup was serving, and the elder Spoford
adjusted his glasses and broke the seal
of the first that came to hand, and soon
as his eye ran over the page broke into
a dry, suppressed fit of laughter that
nearly choked him.
''What fool that old Ben ChildeTs is
to be surel Just listen to his railing.
Why, the man ought to be put into a
straitjacket.
''SIR-Not content with doing all in your
power to annoy and injure me and my family,
by refusing TO discOnnect your water pipes and
10 build separate sewer, by throwing dead
cats, broken bottles and old junk, including
tomato cans and sardinc boxes, over my wall,
by allowing your servants TO insult mine, you
have now resorted to more malignant, nefari-
Gus means of annoyance. You have thrown
into my garden n mysterious miSsive unad
dressed and unsigned, written in gibberish
which take to be some species OF secret cipher,
and equivalent to a White Cap threat, though
the document is wanting in the ordinary at
tributes of coffin, skull and crOssbOnes. This
species Of trespass is l take il, punishable by
due process of law. / shall therefore proceed
TO have the writing deciphered, and shall then
take such legal steps as seem necessary to pun
ish this special form of outrage. I remain, sir,
yours, etc, BENJAMIN CHILDERS."
Old Spofford leaned back in his chair
and laughed until the tears came into
his eyes. "Why, the fellow is mad as a
March hare. throw threatening notes
over his garden WALL He has taken leave
of the little sense he ever had, but will
show him." he continued, suddenly So
bering, chat he can't indulge this tom
foolery with me without paying for it.
The blank rascal, does he think I am go
ing to stand his internal nonsense? 1
will have him clapped into Jail forth
with for defamation of character" and
Spoford pere glared fiercely all round
the table, resting his eyes on Mark, who
was at that moment calmly engaged on
q chicken bone, though his heart was
pretty low down in his boots He had
cooked a pretty kettle of fish, and in
stead of opening way of communica-
ton with Kitty, had stirred up fresh
source of irritation between the belliger-
ents. He had managed the whole thing
like an ass, and yet he sat there sucking
his chicken bone, and said mildly:
II shouldn't take any notice of the let
ter; it is too childish and silly"
mot take any notice Of it!' snorted
his father. "YOu are an idiot, Mark. a
baby. OF course 1 shall take notice of
it. Do you think am going to allow
such a slap in the face to go unchal-
lenged? Is my character for deceucy and
respectabilty of no consequence in this
town? Have no position to sustain
that a charge of this kind can be flung
at me with IMMUNITY by dirty fellow
like Childers:"
Mark had nothing more to say. When
his father got astride of the high horse
of his own responsibility he was a hard
and fierce rider Mrs. Spoford gave her
son a little darting glance of suspicion
which Mark could i'll bear. He was low
In spirits and not quite easy in con-
science, As soon as dinner was over he
strolled of through the town, while his
father Immediately repaired to the IL
brary, took fresh pen, spread a large
sheet of paper on the desk before him,
drew up his coat sleeves, and began in a
firm, large, round hand as follows:
Sm-Your favor Of thisdate is received, and
. document more compact of lies, hatred, NAL
Ice and all uncharitableness never happened
30 fall under my eye. If l were a younger
nan. sir, would answer it, not with cold pen,
ink and paper, but with good, hard. well di-
rected blows. l would cram your injurious
words down your contemplate throat, The
matter Is a put up job, a trumped up charge,
Rnd defy YOU 20 prove that any member Of
my family has ever dropped an insulting note
OF any manner of nissive over your garden
wall But would have you TO know, sir, that
the character OF reputable citizen cannot be
assailed with impunity. The law, sir, takes
coguizance Of libel ard defamation Of charac-
tar. In 4 few days my attorney VII wait upon
you q person. Untl then remain yours, etc,
SrEpHEH SPoFEoRn-