Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-04

tient. A telegram came for Harkless
and Meredith, bringing 1t into the sick
room, was surprised to find the occu-
pant sitting straight up on his couch
without the prop Of pillows. He was
reading the days copy. Of the Herald,
and his face was flushed and his brow
stern.
whats the matter, boy?"
Acknowledgment, l hope" said the
other in q strange voice; worse, per-
,haps. It's this young Fisbee. can't
think what's come over the fellow.
thought he was a treasure beyond
dreams, and he's turning out bad. I'll
swear 1t looks like they'd been-well, 1
won't say that yet, but he hasn't print
ed that McCune business told you Of,
and he's had two days. There liz less
than week before the convention,
and He broke of, seeing the yellow
envelope In Meredith's hand. rs that
a telegram for meg' His companion
gave it to him. He tore It open and
read the contents. They were brief
and unhappy.
Can't you do something? Can't you
come down? It begins to look the other
way. K II.
tom, give me that pad and pencil"
said the sick man. He rapidly dashed
Off note to FL. Fishee.
Sept s. -.
H. Fisbee Editor Carlow Herald:
Dear Sir-You have not acknowledged
my letter Of the I'd Of September by a note
(Which should have reached me the fol-
lowing morning) or by the alteration In
the tenor Of my columns which re-
quested, or by the publication Of the Nc
Cune papers which directed. In this
hold you grossly at fault II you have q
conscientious reason for refusing TO carry
out my request It should have been COM
municated to me at once. az should the
fact-if such be the case-that you are
personal Cor impersonal, II you like friend
of Mr. odney McCune. Whatever the mo-
tive wh.sh prevents you from operating my
paper as direct, should have been In
formed OF It. This is a matter vital TO the
interests Of our community, and you have
hitherto shown yourself too alert in ac-
cepting my slightest suggestion for me to
construe this failure as negligence.
You will receive this letter by this
evening by special delivery. You will
print the facts concerning McCune in to-
morrow mornings paper.
/ am we'll aware Of the obligations un-
der which your extreme efficiency and
your thoughtfulness In many matters
have placed me. 1t is to you l owe my
unearned profits from the transaction in
oil, and 1t is to you I owe the Herald 8
extraordinary present circulation. growth
Of power and influence, That power IS
still under my direction and is an added
responsibility which shall not be misap-
Piled.
Are you sorry for McCune? warned
him long ago that tho papers You hold
would be published II he ever tried to re-
turn to political life, and he Is deliberately
counting on my physical weakness and
absence. Let him rely upon It'll am not
80 weak as he thinks am sorry for him
from the bottom OF my heart. but the
Herald is not.
You need not reply by letter. Tomor-
rows issue answers for you Until have
received copy withhold my Judgment.
JOHN HARMLESS.
Tomorrow's issue-that fateful print
on which depended John HAIRLESS
opinion of III. F'isbee's integrity Con-
tanned an editorial addressed to the
delegates of the convention, warning
them to act for the vital interest Of the
community and declaring that the op-
portunity to be given them in the pres
emit convention was rare one, sin
GUAR piece Of good fortune indeed.
They were to have chance to vote for
a man who had won the love and re-
spect of every person in the district
one who had suffered for his champion
ship Of righteousness; one whom even
his few political enemies confessed
they held in personal affection and es-
TEEN; one who had been the inspiration
of q new era; one whose life had been
helpfulness, whose hand had reached
out to every struggler and unfortunate;
a man who had met and faced danger
for the sake of others; one who lived
under threat for years, and who had
been almost overborne in the fulfllment
Of that threat, but who would live to
see the sun shine on his triumph, the
tribute the convention would bring him
as a gift from community that loved
him. His name needed not to be told.
1t was ON every lip that morning and
in every heart.
Tom was eagerly watching his COM
panion as he read. HAIRLESS fell back
on the pillows with drawn face, and
for moment he laid his thin hand
over his eyes in gesture Of intense
pain.
what is II? % Meredith said quickly.
"Give me the pad, please"
What is it, boy p
The others teeth snapped together.
what is ito" he cried. what is 1t?
It's treachery, and the worst ever
knew. Not word Of the accusation !
demanded-lying praises instead! Read
that editorial there. there" He struck
the page with the back of his hand and
threw the paper to Meredith. Read
that miserable lie! One who has won
the love and respect Of every person i'll
the district One who has suffered
for his championship of righteousness:
Righteousness! Save the markr'
what does it mean?"
''Mean! 1t means McCune. Rod Nc
Cune, who has lived under threat
for years my threat swore I would
print him out of Indiana if he ever
raised his head again, and he knew |
could Almost overborne in the full
fillment Of that threat almost! It's a
black scheme, and see it now. This
man came to Plattville and went on the
Herald for nothing in the world but
this. It's McCune's hand all along. He
a.