The Tupelo journal., 1907-02-15
"My Dear Col. Cheney:

are IuG OILY uldn Oi Coi III ehaS Se~A
assist her. l 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. FARWELL."
"P. ST. will be responsible for
your fee in this case"
So read Col. Cheney while JEFF
stood by awaiting the colonels or.
ders.
"Farwell," he mused, "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. / reckon she's a
widder She all dressed in brack."
"Well, show her in, jeff, and let's
get through with it,
"Yes, sab"
Mrs. Simpson came in almost timid-
ly. She was tiny little woman, about
55 years old. Her eyes were kindly
gray, though red from recent weeping.
Her plain black habiliments confirmed
Jeff's assertion that she was widow.
Mrs. Simpson,"
Eyes, sir" replied the woman in a
quiet diffident voice, land l 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 l 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 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 | knew no one to go to, no one
in all this broad city, so l 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 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: l 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 a 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 l must not work so hard.
You see, colonel" and here the little
woman's eyes dropped, I'VE haven't
had much since my husband died 15
years ago, and sometimes it's been
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 L could
Keep house for him ana do nothing
else. Now" and here there was a
catch iii her voice, now it's all gone
all gone"
''But why, Mrs. Simpson, why is 1T
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
"In Jail" exclaimed Cheney. For
what?"
It took a moment for Mrs. Simpson
to recover herself and she proceeded:
Some time ago Mr.. ]. H. Haviland's 8
little daughter Laura was suddenly
taken very i'll. DR.. Furniss was
called to attend her and wrote a pre-
scripticn. Mr.. lIavilands butler took
It to Rhodus' sto-e and Samuel filled
It. He gave the medicine to the butler.
That night Laura Haviland died.
There was an investigation and as a
result Samuel was arrested for Grim
inal carelessness in filling the prescrip-
tion." Again Mrs. Simpsons feelings
well-nigh overcame her.
"Go on, Mrs. Simpson, tell me every
thing"
Yes sir, will. Naturally Mr.. Havi-
land was very bitter and his wife was
almost crazed by her grief. Laura was
their only child and both parents fairly
idolized her. sympathize with them
with all my heart. DR.. Furniss made
statement to Mr.. Haviland in which
he said the prescription had not been
properly filled, that certain poisonous
drug had been placed therein In sufh-
cient quantity to kill man. Samuel
had compounded the prescription, but
he insists he put it up exactly as pre-
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