The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1897-01-01
THE FITTEST SURVIVES
By ]. H. CONNOLLY.
CHAPTER XII

| ielter carrier nanQed III MSS vn
dressed TO the widow. Any letter at al
would have been something of novelty
few weeks before, but by this time
John was writing pretty regularly tc
Adele, and the old woman had got used
to it. But letter for "Mrs. Sarah
HALL" The incident was something OF
shock and more Of puzzle
why, bless my SOUL" she calculated,
| putting OH her spectacles and inspecting
the things exterior. Il haven't had
letter sent to me in dogs age.
wonder who it can be from. A city let
ter tool Well, didn't suppose there
was anybody here who cared to remem-
Der Sally Hall. 1t might just as well
have come from Picking or Jerusalem,
only l suppose the postage would have
been more. 1t don't look good always
did hate that sort of fiimsy squash col
ored envelope. And if the writer is as
grabbed as his hand he must be eau
tion
Deliberately she opened the envelope
with pair of scissors and drew out a
half sheet of note paper, bearing in the
same grabbed chirography as the super
scription:
care you the widow of Abner G..
Hall? If you are how much are you
willing to give for information that will
be of great value to you? Answer by a
Personal in The World tomorrow adj
dressed to M.
"Oh, mother, it is from that man
Mccartney" exclaimed Addie, who had
been leaning over her mothers shoulder
and reading with her.
cit seems to be- So that contemplate
tool of a scoundrel has come out of his
hiding place at last, and with demand
to be paid for information that his con-
science-if he has any-must tell him
it was his duty to have given freely IS
years ago. Had he done so your father
might be alive today and we in afflu-
ence instead of in the gutter"
ooh, mamma, not quite so bad as
that
"Metaphorically speaking, my child.
How much viii 1 give? l know what I
would like very much to give him. +"
"Why does he want you to advertise
in newspaper when it would be SO
much simpler to give his address for
you to write to him directr"
"Oh, no. The rascal is too smart for
that. His assassin instincts prompt him
to strike from the dark. -
"What are you going to promise
him?"
"Are we in condition to promise any
thing, my child? There is but one thing
I could promise him-a cleaner con-
science than he has had since his par
ticipation in that infamous transac-
tion.
ct hardly think, from what I have
heard you say Of Mccartney, that he
would be Likely to value that very high
ly as an inducement.
"Then we can do nothing-yes, we
can trust in Providence.
"That is all very well, but I wish
Jack were here
"Why? What could Jack do? He cam
not even find this wretch"
ST don't know what he could do but
I am sure he could do something"
$50 you think. I don't wonder at it.
It is natural for girls to imagine their
lovers can do anything. But 1 have
learned differently. Lovers can do no
more than other men, and generally
less. Still, don't deny that I would
like to have Mr. Latham's advice if he
were here. When will he return?'
she did not himself know when he
last wrote, but said he might start at
any minute. That was in the letter I
received the day before yesterday.
ought to have another today"
"You had better send note, which
he will get Immediately upon his return,
saying that would like to have him
call. Meanwhile I suppose we must put
an advertisement in the paper. Sit
down and write it as tell you"
Addie procured writing materials and
seated nerse1f at thetaple. Mrs. Hall
commenced debating:
"Mr. McCaffrey-Sir, do not wonder
that your conscience has eventually
prompted you to an endeavor to make
amends for the evil done long ago
through your connivance if not your ac-
tual completely"
"Good gracious, mammal Do you
know that they charge 90 cents line
for advertisements and only eight words
go into liner"
elbow do you know all that?''
''Found it out when I advertised for
art work.
"You wrote that advertisement your
self, didn't youp'
eyes, mamma.
"Then write this one. But I don't
think they ought to charge anything in
a case like this. F."
"They will, though"
''They didn't charge anything for
printing the most shameful lies about
your poor father"
''Things which can only do harm to
anybody are news and go free. Things
which can possibly do anybody any good
are business and must be paid for. 1t is
very easily understood rule"
81 see Go ahead and write the adj
vertisement But let me see it when it
is done"
After a little study, drafting and re-