Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-04-30

ana Meredith, bringing 1T into the sick
room, was surprised to find the occu-
pant sitting straight up on bis 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?"
| Mismanagement, l hope" said the
] other in strange voice; worse. per-
haps. It's this young Fisbee. / can't
| think what's come over the fellow. I
| thought he was a treasure beyond
dreams, and he's turning out bad. III
swear it looks like they'd been-well, I
won't say that yet, but be hasn't print
ed that McCune business told you of.
and he's had two days. There is less
than a week before the convention,
and BE broke off, seeing the yellow
envelope in Meredith's hand 'Ts that
a telegram for me?" His companion
gave it to him. He tore it open and
read the contents. They were brief
aud unhappy.
| Can't you do something? Can't you
come down? 1t begins to look the other
| way K II.
tom, give me that pad and pencil"
said the sick man. He rapidly dashed
OF note to ii. Fisbee.
Sept. 5. -.
H. Fisoee. 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 I re-
cuested. or by the publication of the Me
| Cune papers which / directed. In this [
hold you grossly al fault II you have
| conscientious reason for refusing to carry
out my request Il should have been com
| municated to me at once. as should the
| fact-it such be the case-that YOU are a
personal Cor .mpersonal. IL you like) friend
OF Mr. Rodney McCune. Whatever the mo.
tive which prevents you from operating my
! paper as i direct. l should have been in
formed of 1t, This is a matter vital to the
| interests OF our community. and you have
! hitherto shown yourself too alert in &C.
| 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 Tn
| der which your extreme efficiency and
| your thoughtfulness IN many matters
have placed me. 1t is 10 you ] owe my
unearned profits from the transaction in
| OIL and IL Is to you / owe the Herald's
extraordinary present circulation. growth
OF power and influence That power Is
still under my direcesea anl . - $500
responsibility which shah not - 0taa0.
| piled.
| Are you sorry for McCune, L warned
| him long ago that the 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 ard
absence. Let him rely upon it, am not
| SO weak as he thinks. am sorry for him
4 hn, -
| Herald is not.
You need not reply by letter. Tomor-
| rows issue answers for you Until i have
| received copy L withhold my Judgment
JOHN HARMLESS
! Tonorrow's issue-that fateful print
Cd which depended John Harkless'
opinion of II. Fisbee'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
ent convention was a rare one, a sim
gular piece of good fortune indeed.
, They were to have chance to vote for
| 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 new era; one whose life had been
helpfulness, whose hand had reached
| out TO every struggler and unfortunate;
man who had met and faced danger
Tor the sake OF others; one who lived
| under threat for years, and who had
, been almost overborne In the fulfillment
| 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 a community that loved
him. His name needed not to be told
IT was on every lip that morning and
In every heart
Tom was eagerly watching his com
panion as he read. Harkless fell back
| on the pillows with drawn face, and
for moment he laid his thin hand
over his eyes in a gesture of intense
pain.
What is it7' Meredith said quickly.
Give me the pad, please"
What is 1t, boyr'
The others teeth snapped together.
What is jt?'' he cried. What is il?
It's treacnery, and the worst 1 ever!
knew. Not a word of the accusation !
demanded-lying praises instead, Read
that editorial-there. therew 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 in
the district" One who has suffered
! Tor his championship of righteousness
righteousness! Save the mark"
What does it meanT'
Mean! IT means McCune. Rod Nc
Cune. who has lived under n threat
for years'-my threat. swore I would
print him ost Of Indiana if he ever
raised his head again. and he knew
could. Almost overborne in the full
hlIment of that threat-almost! It's a
black scheme. and l see it now. This
man came to Plattyille and went on tho