The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1899-03-11
/, RESIDENT LINCOLN had just
issued a call for more troops, and

rity of true patriots. Some of the
states failed to furnish their full quota,
however. and Iowa was among the de-
inQuents Then came the order for a
draft and the name of Hon. James
Fisk of D. headed the list of
he drafted This was no particular
credit to his fellow townsmen, for IN
spite of his title (Which, by the way,
was n tribute 10 wealth only, meaner,
more misery creature than James Fisk
uever lived upon this earth.
He was Just in the prime of life. or
would have been had he been less self
ssh but little by little certain objec
tionable traits of character had left
their imprint upon his countenance
until he appeared prematurely aged
Hence the sobriquet Of "Old Jim Fisk"
which he was Familiarity called by
every man. woman and child-except-
ing ON rare occasions when discretion
was considered the better part of valor.
The Hon. James Fisk was a banker,
railroad magnate, and real es-
tate man combined. In fact, he had
owned large portion of the town In It's
y
cred himself of no small Importance In
the financial world at least. Like many
another, he loved his money first, him
self next and his country last, as well
as least; though 1t Is said that when
he ran for United States Senator during
the previous campaign, he made some
fhrilllngly patriotic speeches, and APP
parently without the slightest com
junction. In those days he was called
~Old Sodom and Gomorrah." an appel
lation which he never quite outgrew.
James Fisk was not the type of a
man who could conscientiously sing
America" or "rhe Star Spangled Ban
uer," consequently he felt that per-
sonal insult had been directed to him
when the President had the audacity 10
place his name with the rest of the
common herd Nevertheless, II was a
case of compulslOn. and he knew that
ne must either hire a substitute or go
into the army himself. The former
was not very easy to accomplish. as
the majority of the poor men had al
ready enlisted. and money, at such a
time, was no inducement TO the rich
men.
He was not In an especially amlable
mood, when at the close of an unsuc-
cessful day spent in search of q suhsti-
tute, he entered his office TO attend to
the afternoon mail. AS he read the
last letter heavier scowl deepened
harshly:
1.-THE young jackanapes need not
think that he can fool with hornet
and not get stung Extend their time
indeedl Why, the interest was due a
month ago I'll foreclose the mortgage
tomorrow"
A new thought seemed to occur tC
him, for the muscles of the stern mouth
relaxed; he smiled blanGly, rubbed his
hands together caressingly, and said:
'Mr. Fisk, you're a diplomat-a born
diplomat. You're an honor to yOuI
country, but more particularly to your
self If you can only manage this thing
properly. you will be all right-yes, al
right"
At the close of the foregoing soIiloquy
he filled out telegraph blank as fol
lows:
Horace w. Packard, Carson City
Iowa-Have found a way to help yor
out. Come to D. on first train.
JAMES FISK"
The message was soon dispatched
and reached its destination just as HOr
ace and his mother were sitting down
20 their evening meal.
"Old Moneybags is getting awfully
considerable, all of sudden; what d,
you suppose is back of 1t, motherY
asked the boy as he handed the tele
gram to her.
Mrs. Packard gave sigh which be
HE'D her words. but she responded hope
fully. 81 don't know, dear, but we will
trust that his heart has softened a littl,
toward the widow and the fatherless.
Don't you think you can go with me
mother? 1 believe Jones will give u
passes, so you can offer no objection OF
that score; anyway, you need a change
for you look pretty tired these days"
And thus it was settled that Mrs
Packard was to spend the week wit
an old school friend, while her son al
tended to business matters.
Mr.. Packard had been one of the frs
of Iowa's sons to lay down his life TO
his country. From the hour that hi
father had marched away, Horace ha
secretly cherished a desire to Join tn
army. He knew that his years wer
against him; then. too, his mother
heart was so sore at the heavy bio,
81 1. =.