Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-11-07

"a |
F WAS at one time lawyer in ac-
a tive practice at the New York
l. bar. l knew many people slight
asa ly, few intimately, and, singular
ly enough, my closest friend was not
call the Rev. DR.. Tetlow, man of un-
blemished character and marked abil- |
ity as scholar and preacher
He lived only two blocks distant
from my own bachelor apartments, and
/ was not surprised, therefore, when ,
note was handed in one evening late
in November with the well known SUI
prescription of DIR. Tetlow ON the COW
er. Some bit of pleasantly, doubtless,
for my friend was famous for his little
quizzical missives, or possibly an invi-
tation to dine. Judge of my dismay
when 1 read the following frenzied APP
peal:
Dear Ned-If you love me, come to my house at
once. For Gods sake, hurry TETLow
The letters ran together and toppled
over one another us if shaken out of q
dicebox, in itself an alarming symp-
tom, for the chirography of my clerical
friend resembled copperplate. More
over, he signed himself "Tetlow," q
rare signature. Almost habitually it
was Calvin" in playful allusion to his
notable stiffness of doctrinal opinion
as opposed to my own progressive the
illogical views. And should say here
that our friendship was a phase Of
that curious psychological propinquity
which sometimes exists between men
of radically divergent modes OF
thought, for more consistent, relent-
less and inf1exible adherent of ultra
Calvinism than Justin Tetlow never
breathed. If he thought the honor of
the Almighty required the sacrifice, the
doctor would have burned me at the
stake and afterward watered my ashes
| with his tears.
lost no time in speculation as to the
reasons for the urgency of the mes
sage. Heavy walking stick in hand
sailed forth, and few minutes later
pressed the button, which summoned
rosy checked maid to the door.
Under orders, evidently, she sent me
up stairs to the study at once. Her
unconcerned manner, the sound Of the
voices Of laughing children and the
touch of the trained fingers of young
Miss Tetlow upon the piano assured
me that, whatever the nature Of the
Immediate trouble, 1t was locked in q
single human breast With fast beat
ing heart / knocked. The knob in
stantly turned and l confronted DIR.
Tetlow.
"Thanll God, you have come" he ex-
claimed, with long drawn sigh SO
full Of pent up emotion that 1 instinc-
lively put my arm around his shoulder
in caressing sympathy. remembered
his tender faithfulness in my own
deep trouble, nameless here, and sur
veyed him with eyes Of profoundest
pity.
We had not met since I left town
for four weeks hunting trip in the
mountains, and the change in his ap-
pearance was appalling. Hollow rings
encircled the eyes, nervous tremor
shook the large, heavy frame, and his
voice possessed that tense, high keyed,
vibrant quality which SO often accom-
panies tempest tossed mind. Quickly
boiling the door, and without speaking
another word, DR.. Tetlow drew me
swiftly into n study chair, and before
a single question could be asked he
thrust into my hand a scrap Of paper.
I no hn
hoarsely and with startling energy,
which showed the cruel tension of the
nervous strain; "read that and tell me
whether am lost"
ran my eye swiftly over the scrawl
The penmanship was bold, struggling
uniformed, and the ink had not been
long dry. In my legal practice had
become something Of an expert in the
Interpretation of mental states by
photographic tokens. And the writing
convinced me at glance that the
author had penned the note while in q
condition of extreme mental agitation
although the contents hardly sustained
the conviction. And what / read was
this:
II Rev. Dr. Tetlow will return to Miss Alice Ed
munds her invaluable lost monograph on eth
| Great Stone Of Thebes," nothing further will b
said. Should he fail to comply with this demand
| will proclaim him a thief and hypocrite ii
| the newspapers, at the police station and befor
| his own congregation next Sunday morning unles
| the property OF Miss Edmunds be restored to he
by Saturday night. 0ll-l3.l5.
So great was my relief l could have
burst into q roar of laughter had 1t no
been for my friends pitiable distress o.
spirit. AS it was, smiled disdainfully
"You don't mean to soy, old fellow,
with ring Of genuine incredulity Ii
the tones, that this contemplate mes
sage of a blackmailer Is the occasion O
your importunate haste in calling IN,
j, to your help?"
"Just that" replied the doctor weari
ly and dejectedly, "and you alone cal
save me from utter ruin"
+ Utter ruin! Was the strong man
feeble child? Had the fiber Of his bal
anced Judgment broken down com
pletely? My legal wits played battle
door and shuttlecock with the problem
Then spoke out banterlngly:
Nonsense, man. You're WORKING To
hard and have fallen into fit Of ovel
application tremens. Get out of door
for week and play-or--or I'll Gu
down my pew rental and starye 20
out"
The doctor only put his face betwee
his hands and groaned.
Baffled In that quarter, took ser
GUS turn to humor his Incompetent
sible mood.
"When did you receive this noteY
GAn hour ago.