The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-02-22

The bearer, Mrs. Elvina Simpson,
is in dire distress, and after having
heard her story 1 am convinced you
are the only man on earth that can
assist her. I bespeak for her your
very best personal efforts. still
hold in grateful remembrance the
splendid work you did for me, and
Mrs. Farwell joins me in best wishes.
Sincerely,
CHARLES B. FAREWELL"
''P. 81 will be responsible for
your fee in this case.'
So read Col. Cheney while jeff
stood by awaiting the coloners or
ders.
''Farwell,' he unused, 'oh, yes;
that's the chap from Duluth that
wanted a name His P. S. is ex-
tremely interesting" Then to jeff:
Lady waiting outsider"
"Yas, Kunnel, an she's powerful
perturbed, sab. She bin cryin' 'spect
fun tn look OBJ her eyes,"
That's nothing, JEFF, women cry on
the slightest provocation.
"Das de trufe, kunnel. But dis pore
woman's in heap O. trouble an ve'y
anxious ter see you. I reckon she's a
wilder. She all dressed in brack."
well, show her in, jeff, and let's
get through with it,
Yes, sah."
Mrs. Simpson came in almost timid-
ly. She was a tiny little woman, about
~ -
gray, though red from recent weeping.
Her plain black habiliments confirmed
Jeff's assertion that she was a widow.
Mrs. Simpson,
Yes, sir" replied the woman in a
quiet diffident voice, "and know you
are Col. Cheney. Mr.. Farwell showed
me your picture"
''You know Mr.. Farwell quite we'll,
Mrs. Simpson," Col. Cheney merely
wanted to get the woman perfectly at
ease so she could state her trouble
succinctly and in as few words as
possible.
''Oh yes, sir, indeed do. When he
first came to Chicago and worked in
the post Office he boarded with me on
the West side. He continued to make
my house his home even after he en-
tered the railway mail service"
Mrs. Simpsons manner and talk
showed her to be a woman of refine
ment and good breeding. Her appear
ance would indicate she was not in
easy circumstances.
'You see, Col. Cheney, when trouble
came I knew no one to go to, no one
in all this broad city, so wrote Mr.
Farwell and told him everything This
| morning an answer came and inclosed
| therein was the letter of introduction
to you. You may be sure I lost no
time in coming to your Office"
Eyes, Mrs. Simpson" replied Cheney
with a pleasant smile, "and now per
haps you will tell me this awful
trouble. Maybe we shan't find it so
| bad after all" Then he muttered to
himself: Women invariably put the
cart before the horse
Mrs. Simpson actually smiled wan,
| pitiful smile. Her heart was sore op-
| pressed and the colonel knew it, but
something in his frank, pleasant man
ner seemed to give her hope and cour-
age, and she replied:
Excuse me, colonel; I thought you
knew; it's about my son Samuel. He's
"a years old and a pharmacist He
graduated at the university four years
ago with degree of Phi. G. and shortly
! afterwards took position in the store
Of G. H. Rhodus, of this city. There
| has never been a complaint against
him so far as know. His habits are
good and all his spare time is spent in
reading. His wages he always brought
to me saying must not work so hard.
You see, colonel" and here the little
woman's eyes dropped, 1--WE haven't
had much since my husband died Is
years ago, and sometimes it's been a
hard struggle to get along. Samuel
was doing so we'll and not long ago
congratulated himself that his salary
had been increased, so that I could
keep house for him and do nothing
else. Now" and here there was a
catch in her voice, now it's all gone
all gone"
| Dut WHY, NILS. O1upSOu, WHY Is IL
! all gone? What has made the
changer" quietly asked the colonel.
| Samuel is in Jail" A suppressed
sob sprang involuntarily from the poor
woman's heart as she conveyed this
information.
I'm Jail" exclaimed Cheney. For
what?"
| It took a moment for Mrs. Simpson
to recover herself and she proceeded:
| Some time ago Mr.. J. H. Haviland's
little daughter Laura was suddenly
taken very ill. Dr. Furniss was
called to attend her and wrote a pre-.
scription. Mr.. Haviland's butler took
it to Rhodus' store and Samuel filled
it. He gave the medicine to the butler.
That night Laura Haviland died.
There was an investigation and as q
result Samuel was arrested for Grim.
inal carelessness in filling the prescrip-
ton" Again Mrs. Simpsons feelings
well-nigh overcame her. -
Go on. Mrs. Simpson. fell mo overv.