The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-03-05
CHAPTER XVII

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tiers. As a general thing letters are oil
little concern to anyone except the
writers and the receivers, but they are
inserted here under the hope that the
reader is already well enough acquaint-
ed with the correspondents 10 feel some
interest in what they have written.
It was nearly a fortnight after the
receipt of the cablegram from Kenyon
that George Wentworth found, one
morning, on his desk, two letters. each
bearing a Canadian postage stamp.
One was somewhat bulky and one was
thin, but they we're both from the same
writer. He tore open the thin one first.
without LOOKING at the date that wa
stamped upon it. He was little be
wildered by its contents. which ran as
follows:
MY DEAR GEORGE: have Just heard
that Melville IS the man who has bought
the mine. The cirrI'--4c+o 49, .',a asa
leave no doubt i'm my mind that such is the
fact. therefore please disregard the re-
quest ! made as to employment in the let
ter posted to you short time ago. feel
certain sense of disappointment in the
fact that Melville is the owner of the mine
II seems have only kept one rascal from
buying il, to put il in the hands of another
rascal Your friend. JOHN KENYON"
Melville the owner" cried Went
worth TO himself. whatever could
have put that into Johns head? This
letter is evidently the one posted a few
hours before. so it will contain what
ever request he las to make" and. with
out delay. George Wentworth tore open
the envelope of he second letter which
was obviously the one written first. IL
contained a number of documents re-
lating to the transfer of the mine. The
letter from John himself went on to
give particulars of the buying of the
mine. Then il continued. IL wish YOU
would do me a favor, George. Will You
kindly ask the owner of the mine if he
will give me charge of il. | am. OF
course, anxious TO make it turn out as
well as possible. ard | believe | can
more than earn my salary, whatever
it is. You know am not grasping in
the matter of money. but get me as
large a salary rs you think deserve.
; Il desire to make money for reasons
that are not entirely selfish. as you
know. To tell you the truth. George,
] am tired of cities and of people. ]
want to live here in the woods, where
there is not so much deceit and treach-
cry as there seems to be in the big
towns. When reached London last
time felt like boy getting home. My
feelings have undergone complete
change. and think. if it were not for
you and certain young lady, l should
never care to see the big city again
What is the use of my affecting mystery
and writing the words a certain young
lady OF course you know whom l
meaN-Miss Edith Longworth. You
know also that / am. and have long
been, in love with her. If had sue
ceeded in making the money thought |
/ should by selling the mine, | might |
have had some hopes of making more. |
and of ultimately being in position to |
ask her to be my wife. But that. anC |
very many other hopes. have disai: |
peared with my recent London expe- |
riences.
Il want to get into the woods and re-
cover some of my lost tone and my |
lost faith in human nature. If you can |
arrange matters with the owner of the |
mine so that may stay here for year |
or two, you will do me a great favor"
George Wentworth read over the lat |
ter part of this letter two or three times. |
Then he rose, paced the floor and pom
dered over the matter. ut isn't thing |
upon which can ask anyOne's advice"
he muttered to himself. The trouble |
with Kenyon is he is entirely too mod |
est. A little useful self-esteem would !
be just the thing for him" At last he
stopped suddenly in his walk. by |
Jove." he said TO himself, slapping his |
thigh. II shall do it. let the conse- |
quences be what they may" And lie
sat down to his desk and wrote letter. |
MY DEAR Miss LoNGwoRTH: You told |
me when you were here last that you |
wanted all the documents in the case OF |
the mine in every instance. document |
has come this morning that is rather i'm |
portant. John Kenyon. as you will learn |
by reading the letter. desires the man
agership of the mine. | need not say that !
think he is the best man in the world fo |
the position, and that everything Will be |
safe in his hands. I therefore inclose you |
his letter. | had some thought OF cutting |
out some part of it. but knowing your de- |
sire, as you said. to have all the docu- |
Inents in the case, | take the liberty of |
sending this one exactly as il reached me, /
and if anyone is to blame. | am the person. /
remain your agent.
GEORGE WENTWORTH"
He sent this letter out at once. - |
that be would not have a chance 10 /
change his mind. lit will reach her |
this afternoon. and doubtless she will |
call and see me-"
1t is, perhaps, hardly necessary TO asy |
she did not call. and she did not see |
him for many days sfterward. but next |
morning, when he came to his office. he
found a letter from her. II ran:
DEAR Mr. WENTWORTH: The sending !
of Mr.. Kenyon; letter 10 me is a some |
what dangerous precedent. which you
must. on no account. follow by sending !
any letters you may receive from any per
son TO Mr.. Kenyon However. as you
were probably aware when you sent the |
letter, no blame viii rest on your shoulders |
or on those of anyone else. in this instance.
Still. be very careful in future. because
letter sending. unabridged. is sometimes
a risky thing to do All the same. you are