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

00 IIattVlhe woke up in August,
when the Herald became a daily. 1t
was then that history began to be
made. The Herald printed news. II
had made connection with the Asso-
csated Press, and it was sold every
morning at stands in every town in
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
oH, and the Herald doomed the field.
People swarmed into town; the hotel
was crowded; strangers became no sen.
sstion whatever. A capitalist bought
the whole north side of the square to
erect new stores. and the Carlow bank
began the construction of q new bank
building OF Bedford stone on the corner
opposite the Herald. Then it was whis-
pered. next affirmed. that Main street
was to be asphalted. That was the end
Of the ''old days" OF Plattville.
| But the man who had laid the roun.
dalton upon which the new Plattville
, was to be built, he who through the
quiet labor of years had stamped his
Rpirit 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 a victoria, where
he reclined. gray and thin, seemingly
no more than long afternoon shad
ow. But for days be would lie in q
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 be thought of returning to Plat.
Vile; then he felt physical horror. Tue
place did not need him. nor he the
pace. Fisbee had found young rela-
tive to run the Herald, who signed his
typewriter business letters III. Fis-
bee" in q strapping hand that suggest
ed six feet of muscle scattering ink on
SITS shirt sleeves.
John wondered idly where old Fis-
bee had rsked up a relative. and he
thought il probable that III. 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
be was to live. And there was no Ion
ger need to go there. He was glad to
know that. II. Fisbee had written him
before the oil dubbed 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 IL was
almost imperceptible, and Harkless had
little money he had saved He let
Meredith arrange il for him, aud a few
days later the stock leaped cloudward
I 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-
vaneed 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 a pad on his knee.
q Rouen. Sept. ?. =.
Dear Mr.. Fisbee-Yours of the lst to
hand. i entirely approve all arrangements
you nave made i 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. II that ever happens. but until
mat tims regard me as a 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 i have only one suggestion: I
observe that your editorials concerning
Haiioways denomination are something
!okswarm. Ii Is very important that he
oe renominated. not so much on account
q assuring his return TO Washington (for
ne IS no Madison. l fear), but the fellow
AcCune must be beaten II we have to
send him to the penitentiary on an old
issue TO do II. The man Is corrupt to the
zone he has been bought and sold. and
am glad the proofs or IL are in your
nsnos, as you tell me you found them as
directed In my desk. The papers Won
hoid drove him out of politics once by the
mere threat of publication. You should
nave printed them last week as / sug-
Sss'eu DO so at once; the time is short
me Herald is little paper (not so little
nowadays. after all. thanks to you) but
u is an honest one and il isn't afraid of
ROD McCune and his friends Please let
ne see as hearty a word as you can say
1or Halloway also. You can write with
ginger Please let us have some i'm this
matter. l am. very truly yours.
JOHN HARMLESS.
when the letter was concluded, he
handed ii to Meredith. PLEASE nd
dress that. put special on ii and send
IL, Tom Ii should 90 at once, so as to
reach him tonight"
III. Fisbeei"
"Yes-H. Fisbee."
believe it does you good to write,
BOY, said the other as he bent over
nm. You look more chirrupy than
you have for several days"
/. Its that beast McCune. This youne
f1sbee is rather queer about it. | felt
stirred up as went along" But even
before the sentence was finished tbe
raVor OF age and utter WEAKNESS re-
turned, and the dark lids closed ove~
MS eyes. They opened again SLOWLY
ana he took the others hand and looked
of