Courier Democrat., 1904-11-17
tcoSr1SrED.l

he did not care much for that or for
anything except to keep away from
Carlow for the rest of his life. since
he was to live. And there was no lon
ger need to go there. He was glad to
know that II. Fisbee had written him
before the oil bubbled in Eph's wells
that to buy stock in Mr. Watts COM
pany might be profitable, especially as
the stock was then so low that it was
almost imperceptible, and Harkless had
little money he had saved. He let
Meredith arrange it for him, and few
days later the stock leaped cloudward.
However, his modest riches interest
ed him as little as did everything else.
He left his bed less and less. took no
more drives, and his lethargy deep
ened.
= The only thing In which he showed
interest was the congressional cam
paign Of the district. 1t was far ad-
vanced before the Herald spoke Of it
at all, aud Harkless saw that McCune
had lifted his head.
One day Tom came in and found
him writing on pad on his knee.
Rouen, Sept ., -.
Dear Mr.. Fisbee-Yours OF the LIST to
hand. entirely approve all arrangements
you have made. / think you understand
that I wish you to regard everything as
in your own hands. You are the editor Of
the Herald and have the sole responsible
fly for everything including policy. until,
after proper warning. l relieve you In
person. il that ever happens but until
that time regard me as mere spectator.
do not fear that you will make any ;.l..;-
takes. You have done very much better in
all matters than could have done myself.
AT present l have only one suggestion: I
observe that your editorials concerning
Halloway's denomination are something
lukewarm. 1t is very important that he
be renominated. not SO much on account
OF assuring his return to Washington (for
he is no Madison. I fear), but the fellow
McCune must be beaten If we have to
send him to the penitentiary on an old
issue to do 1t. The man is corrupt to the
bone. He has been bought and sold. and
am glad the proofs Of it are in your
hands, as you tell me you found them. as
directed. in my desk. The papers you
hold drove him out of politics once by the
mere threat Of publication. You should
have printed them last week, as l sug-
gested Do SO at once; the time is short.
The Herald.is little paper (not SO little
nowadays. after ALL thanks to you). but
It is an honest one. and 1t isn't afraid OF
Rod Mccune and his friends. Please let
me see as hearty word as you can say
for Holloway also. You can write with
ginger. Please let us have some in this
matter. I am. very truly yours.
JOHN HARMLESS.
When the letter was concluded, he
handed it to Meredith. please ad-
dress that, put Special on it and send
it. Tom. 1t should go at once, SO as to
reach him tonight"
!, H. Fisbee:'
"Yes-H. Fisbee."
II believe it does you good to write,
boy" said the other as he bent over
him. You look more chirrupy than
you have for several days"
Its that beast A1cCune. This young
Fisbee is rather queer about it. 1 felt
stirred up as went along" But even
before the sentence was finished the
favor of age and utter weariness re-
turned. and the dark lids closed over
his eyes. They opened again slowly.
and he took the others hand and looked
up at him mournfully; but as it were,
his soul shone forth in dumb and elo-
quent thanks.
'I-Im giving you jolly summer,
Tom" he said, with a quivering effort
to smile. Don't you think l am: l
don't-I don't know what should have
done
You old Indian"' said Meredith ten
derly
Three days later Tom was rejoiced
by symptoms of invigoration in his pa
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 bis brow
stern
What's the matter, boy:"
"Mismanagement. hope" said the
other in strange voice: worse, per
.haps. It's this young Fisbee. l can't
think what's come over the fellow. l
thought he was a treasure beyond
dreams, and he's turning out bad. I'll
swear 1t looks like they'd been-well, l
won't say that yet, but he hasn't print
ed that McCune business told you Of.
and he's had two days. There is less
ltan a week before the convention,
and''- He broke off, seeing the yellow
envelope in Meredith's hand SIS that
a telegram for me:" 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? 1t begins to look the other
way. K. H.
'Tom, give me that pad and pencil"
said the sick man. He rapidly dashed
OF note to II. Fisbee.
Sept. 5. -.
n. Fisbee, Editor Carlow Herald:
Dear sir-You have not acknowledged
my letter Of the I'd of September by 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 q fault II you have a
eonscientious reason for refusing to carry
4eat ny. FsQueGkit should have been eon-
1hunlcatod 70 me at once. ~ should the
Inct-H anch - - caoe-that you afO q