The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-05-03

II long Wulle. Out III always
@ wakes up some time. and
@J Plattville woke up in August.
when the Herald became n daily. II
was then that history began to be
made. The Herald printed news. II
had made n connection with the Asso-
ciated Press. and it was sold every
morning at stands in every town In
that section OF the state. Its circula.
ton trlpled- Two new men wers
brought from Houen for the editorial
and reportorial stnff. 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 swarmed into town; the hotel
was crowded: strangers became no sen-
sation whatever. A capitalist bought
the whole north side of the square to
began the construction OF a new bank
building of Bedford stone on the corner
opposite the Herald. Then 1t was whis-
pcred. next affirmed. that Main street
was to he asphalted. That was the end
of the ''old days" OF Plattville.
But the man who had laid the foun-
dation 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 a
quiet street in Rouen. and John was
well enough of his hurts to be taken
abroad sometimes in n 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 Platt-
vile: then he felt physical horror. The
place did not need him, nor he the
place. Fisbee had found young rela-
tive to run the Herald. who signed his
typewriter business letters III. Fis-
bee" in stripping hand that suggest
ed six feet OF muscle scattering ink on
its shirt sleeves
John wondered idly where old Fis-
bee had raked up n relative, and he
thought 1t probable that III. Fisbee was
a Yankee cousin of the old man. but
he did not care much for that or for
anything except to keep away from
he was to live. And there was no lon
ger need to go there. He was glad TO
know that. III. 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 1t was
almost imperceptible. and Harkless had
n little money he had saved. He LET
Meredith arrange IL for him. and a 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 nc
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
ut all. and Harkless saw that McCun'
had lifted Ills head.
One day Tom came in and found
him writing on a pad on his knee.
Rouen. Sept. 2. -.
Dear Mr.. Fisbee-Yours of the 1st e
| hand / entirely approve all arrangement:
| you have made. / think you understand
that 1 wish you to regard everything a.
/ in your own hands. You are the editor o.
i the Herald and have the sole responsible
Il ity for everything including policy. until
after proper warning. / relieve you IL
/ person. II that ever happens. but unit
1 that time regard me as a mere spectator
i / 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
/ HallOway's denomination are something
| lukewarm. II is very important that HI
| be renominated. not so much on accoun
| of assuring his return to Washington (fol
Il he Is no Madison. i fear). but the fellow
| McCune must be beaten IL we have 4
send him to the penitentiary on an oil,
/ issue to do IT. The man is corrupt to tn.
| bone. He has been bought and sold. and
| am glad the proofs of 1t are in you
| hands. as you tell me you found them. a,
| directed. in my desk. The papers yol
| hold drove him out OF politics once by tn
mere threat OF publication. You shoul,
| have printed them last week as | sug
The Herald Is little paper mot so littl
| nowadays. after all. thanks to you). bu
| IL is an honest one. and IL isn't afraid o
Rod McCune and his friends. Please le
me see as hearty word as you can sa,
for Holloway also. You can write will
ginger. Please let us have some in thi
matter. i am. very truly yours.
i JOHN HARMLESS.
When the letter was concluded. h
handed it to Meredith. PLEASE ad
dress that, put special on II and sen,
it. Tom. 1t should 90 at once, so as L
reach him tonight"
II. FisbeeT'
''Yes-H. Fisbee."
Il believe it does you good TO write
boy" said the other as he bent owe
him. You look more chirrupy thal
you have for several days"
Its that beast McCune. This youn
Fisbee is rather queer about it. | fel
stirred up as went along" But eve
before the sentence was finished tn
favor OF age and utter weariness r,
turned and the dark lids closed owe