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

was then that history began to be
made The Herald printed news. 1t
had made a connection with the Asso-
ciated Press, and it was sold every
morning at stands in every town Id
that section of the state. Its circula-
ton tripled. Two new men were
brought from Rouen for the editorial
and reportorial staff, and Parker talked
Of new presses During the first week
of the daily venture Eph Watts struck
oil, and the Herald doomed the field.
People swarined into town; the hotel
was crowded; strangers became no SEN
sation whatever. A capitalist bought
the whole north side Of the square to
erect new stores, and the Carlow bank
began the construction Of new bank
building Of Bedford stone on the corner
opposite the Herald. Then 1t was wills
pered, next affirmed, that Main street
was to be asphalted. That was the end
of the '.old days of Plattyille.
But the man who had laid the foun-
dalton upon which the new Plattville
was to be built, he who through the
quiet labor of years had stamped his
spirit on the people, lay sick in his
friends house and did not care.
Tom Meredith had taken him from
the hospital to his own home on q
quiet street in Rouen. and John was
well enough of his hurts to be taken
abroad sometimes in victoria, where
he reclined, gray and thin, seemingly
no more than a long afternoon shad-
ow. But for days he would lie In a
lethargy that made Tom despair. The
soul of the country editor was sick In
side Of him; he was weary and worn,
and pain had left him dulled, except
when he thought of returning to Plat
vile: then he felt physical horror. The
place did not need him, nor he the
place. Fisbee had found a young rela-
tive to run the Herald, who signed his
typewriter business letters III. Fis-
bee. in strapplng hand that suggest
ed six feet of muscle scattering ink on
its shirt sleeves.
John wondered idly where old Fis-
bee had raked up relative, and he
thought 1t probable that n. Fisbee was
Yankee cousin of the old man, but
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 60 there. He was glad to
know that. H. Fisbee had written him
~, Trv,1Nt q
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
a little money he had saved. he let
Meredith arrange 1t 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 It was far adj
vanced before the Herald spoke of 1t
at all, and Harkless saw that McCune
had lifted his head.
One day Tom came In and found
him writing on pad on his knee.
Rouen Sept. 2. -.
Dear Mr.. Fisbee-YourS of the LIST TO
hand. entirely approve all arrangements
YOU have made. think you understand
that wish you to regard everything as
in your own hands. You are the editor OF
the Herald and have the sole responsible
ity for everything. including policy, until,
after proper warning. 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 mis-
takes You have done very much better In
all matters than could have done myself.
At present have only one suggestion:
observe that your editorials concerning
Halloways denomination are something
lukewarm. 1t Is very important that ne
be renominated, not SO much on account
Of assuring his return to Washington Qor
he is no Madison. fear). but the fellow
McCune must be beaten II we have to
send him to the penitentiary on an old
issue to do it. The man is corrupt to the
bone He has been bought and sold, and
am glad the proofs Of 1t 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 / sug-
gested Do so at once; the time Is short.
The Herald is little paper mot so little
nowadays, after all. thanks to YOU. but
It is an honest one. and it.isnt afraid Of
/ Rod McCune and his friends. Please let
me see as hearty word you can say
for Holloway also. You can write with
ginger Please let us have some In this
matter. 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"
III. Fisbee?"
"Yes-H Fisbee."
II believe it does you good to write,
boy said the other as he bent over
him. "You look more chirrnpy than
you have for several days"
"It's that beast McCune This young
Fisbee is rather queer about it. l felt
stirred up as I went along" But even
before the sentence was finished the
favor of age and utter WEAKNESS 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'm giving you jolly summer,
Tom" he said, with quivering effort
to smile. .Don't you think l am? I