The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-04-20


nocence. Receiving no reply. con-
cluded that her father would not per-
NIT her to send a reply.
Brooding In my cell, | could not but
revert to the good old primeval times
l have cited before when suitor
might kill as many of his fellow be-
ings as he pleased without being OBJ
ieeted TO on that score for a son-in-
law. | had killed no one. l was mere
" suspected of killing man. And
II Bessie's father did not kill men he
Killed the next grade OF animal below
men-or other men did the work Tor
him. which Is just as criminal-and
devoured the flesh. 1t seemed to me
that the only logical beings are the
beasts and the birds They XIII and
eat each other without inquiring
whether or no they are eating the
same species, while maxwell, this Is
what man does.
He kills and eats every animal be-
low himself. To kill even one OF his
own kind he considers the greatest OF
crimes unless he Kills them In battle,
where the more men he kills the big
ger man he Is. which is exactly what
made the chiefs among his savage an
cestors.
| was so impressed with this reason
Ing that l asked my jailer for writing
materials and wrote It down. or. rather.
elaborated the bare skeleton had
thought out When It was finished l
asked to have 1t delivered to Bessie's
father.
In due time a reply came as follows:
have always desired my daughter to
marry a man distinguished for some
thing. Artists and poets are usually dis
tlnguished for their ideallty. You. being
one of the kind. share that distinction.
You may further lay claim to being tho
most impracticable numskull that. to
my knowledge. the world has yet spro-
auced You have interested me in your
self and your case. | have retained the
best criminal lawyer l can md to take
charge OF your case and IL your inno-
cence Is proved l shall deem my daugh-
Ter honored in wedding such an eminent
fool
This reply stung me to the quick.
regarded 1t as taptamount to a re-
fusal of his daughters hand even II
my innocence were proved. AS to the
lawyer he spoke of hiring for me.
wrote him Immediately that | had en-
gagged the most eminent counsel in the
land and would have no need OF the
one he had retained.
What was my surprise, when was
folding and addressing this second let
ter, to receive a visit from Bessie.
She threw herself into my arms
Historically. | couldn't tell whether 1t
was Joy or grief that moved her.
When she became calmer | spoke OF
her fathers communication.
.Father has turned right around"
she said. Hes your friend forever"
Really"
Yes, really. He considers you In
nocent of this crime with which you
are charged. He says that no man
who could have written that letter
.ould have committed murder and II
he did he would convince the judge
that there was no case against him.
tween killing a man and a steer"
II am glad" | said. embracing her,
that In thousands of years one couple
may in some respects return to the
natural methods Of our progenitors.
Are you quite sure your father Is sim
ere in his change of mind toward
mei"
Il am. If he were not he would not
have permitted me to come here to
visit you. He says you are the first
man he ever met who did not talk and
act urtGcially. He's simply delighted
with YOU
| showed her the note | had written
declining her fathers offer of counsel.
She burst out laughing. / asked what
amused her.
You haven't any money to pay
COUNSEL" she said.
Upon my word! l never thought
Of that"
You are ideal and impractical" she
said That's the reason l love you"
And she embraced me.
Our colloquy was broken in upon
by the sheriff. who came in to say
that the real murderer had been ar
rested and had confessed. | was free
to go. At the same time he handed
me letter postmarked Rio Janeiro.
All" exclaimed. my creden-
tals"
Slipping the letter in my pocket.
accompanied Bessie to her fathers
house. He greeted me warmly, and
handed him the credentials l had
received at the jail. Removing the en-
velope, he began to read, his eyes open
ing wider as he read.
Are you a fool or a knaveT he
asked, looking up at me.
Both" | replied.
what Is III" asked Bessie.
why, daughter. this pastoral bust
ness Of yours has resulted in your
catching the only son and heir of the
biggest coffee planter In Brazil
knew when l received his note that
he was an original, but / didn't know
he was rich. You tell me-" addressing
me, that you are both fool and
kna,e VIII you kindly inform me Of
the retrospective reasoning by which
you have arrived at this result?'
We'll" l replied, mo one but fool
who has the career before him that
have would spend his time sitting on
a three legged stool In a wood daub-
ing, and no one but a knave would
make love to a girl without her IA