The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-15

clared father striking the table with
his fist.
They give twenty-four hours went
on my sister, reading, for an ans
wer.''
And then what?" asked mother.
Its some confounded foreign long
firm swindle," cried father vehen emily,
and won't be party to it. Besides,
from HERO
It's in her handwriting" said my
sister.
The messenger, it seemed, had left
fact absolved us from the responsibility
of sending an immediate reply, but in
creased the feeling of worry that was
gradually making Roadway and defeaL-
ing the first sensation of RELIEF.
The messenger called the next morn
ing while We were pretending to eat
rolls and butter and weeping silently
in our coffee. He brought another COM
munication from dear Fraulein, which
read:
Dearest and Kindest of F'riends-I
consider it most inhuman of you not 10
have replied instantly to my first let
ter. / am sure if you had been in my
position and / had been in yours 1
should have taken action Immediately.
1.-The two simply hideouS old woman
who are watching me are not unkind,
but 1 gather from them that unless
the money comes today before sunset
1 shall, oh, horrorsl be compelled to
strapping fellow who appears to view
me with a certain amount of natural
admiration. You know that rather
than do this 1 would die. make
final entreaty to you. The amount
seems large, but it is really nothing
compared with the value of my liberty.
and if you had known all the disap-
pointments I have endured in the past
you would understand, / think, and
pity me.
Carlos asks me to say that he is
willing to reduce the sum demanded
to 4, 900 pesetaS if / will but allow him
to kiss my hand. and if you will now
do your part will do mine, cost what
it may.
eff your hearts are made of stone,
farewell. Think Sometin es of me and
have an announcement of my demise
inserted in the Tines and the Morning
Post. My age can be mentioned as
thirty nine. Your Agony Stricken
Friend
Some one go down and hold the
messenger fast" ordered my mother,
wiping her eyes. My sister flew.
Il don't care for this haggling," said
father, -doubtfully. when Pm making
deal I like the other side to mention
a figure and stick to it"
But 1000 pesetas is less than 5000"
argued mother.
Il know, know" said father, irri-
tably. But the point is this. They
have come down 1000; if we stand out
for bit they may come down 1000"
"And if she comes back she will
never let us hear the last of it"
That's true" sighed mother.
We've got until sunset pointed
out.
Go down, my DEAR said father to
me- land try to make the boy under
stand that he is to return for a final
answer at 4 o'clock today. I don't be-
heve in doing these things in a hurry.
Fathers Discrimination for speed had
to be counteracted, and that day we
three women argued with him so pitt
fully that when the hour of four ar
rived he had the bag of English notes
and gold ready in a sealed parcel, and
when the messenger came again it was
handed to him with words of caution
in nearly every language but his own.
Then we waited.
I'm getting more terrified now" de-
clared mother, as we sat after dinner
awaiting Fraulein's return, than was
before"
'She's sure to speak her mind" said
father, moving the wine glasses nerv-
ously.
I'VE shall get the worst of it,. said
turn to town the account she will man
age to give of our heartless conduct
toward her at a time of imminent peril
doesn't bear thinking Of"
She will be here" we all said in
regretful chorus, hin half an hour
F'raulein did not return in half an
hour, did not come back that night,
and it was only the next day, after
ste ling in awaiting her, that the murky
faced messenger brought with every ap-