Putnam patriot., 1911-03-03

4 luW H4HtstiA- To XII even one or ulS own kind he considers the greatest of l crimes unless he kills them in battle. | where the more men he kills the big
 ger man he is, which is exactly what i made the chiefs among his savage an- cestorS.
 I was so impressed with this reason ing that I 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 it delivered to Bessie's father
 In due time reply came as follows: I have always desired my daughter to | marry a man distinguished for some thing Artists and poets are usually dis | tinguished for their ideality. You. being one of the kind. share that distinction. | You may further lay claim to being the most mpracticeble numskull that. to | my knowledge. the world has yet pro- duced. You have interested me in your self and your case. I have retained the best criminal lawyer l can find to take charge of your case. and If your inno- cence Is proved l shall deem my daugh- ! ter honored in wedding such eminent fool
 This reply stung me to the quick. 1 regarded it as tantamount to a re- fusal of his daughters hand even if
 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 I was folding and addressing this second let
 ter. to receive a visit from Bessie.
 She threw herself into my arms | hysterically I couldn't tell whether 1t was joy or grief that moved her.
 When she became calmer I 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
 Ire charged He says that no man
 who could have written that letter
 ,ould have committed murder and if he did he would convince the judge i that there was no ease against him, since there is no logical difference be- tween killing d man and steer. Il am glad" 1 said, embracing her,
 that ill thousands of years one couple may in some respects return to the
 natural methods of our progenitors.
 Are you quite sure your father is sin
 cere in his change of mind toward
 mel"
 T am. If he were not he would not hax a1 tn visit you. He says you are the first
 man he ever met who did not talk and
 act artifeially. He's simply delighted with you
 I showed her the note 1 had written declining her fathers offer of counsel She burst out laughing. l asked what amused her
 You haven't any money to pay counsel" she said.
 Upon my wordl I 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. l was free
 to go At the same time he handed
 ne letter postmarked Rio Janeiro.
 "Ah." l exclaimed. my creden- tials!''
 Slipping the letter in my pocket. accompanied Bessie to her fathers
 house He greeted me warmly, and I handed him the credentials l had
 received ut the jail Removing the en-
 ve!ope, he began to read, his eyes open ing wider as he read
 Are you fool or knaveT he
 asked, looking up at me.
 Both" l replied.
 What is it." asked Bessie.
 Why, daughter this pastoral busi-
 ness of yours has resulted in your | catcling the only son and heir of the
 biggest coffee planter ill Brazil. knew when | received his note that
 he was an original, but l didn't know he was rich You tell me" addressing
 me, that you are both fool and | knave Will you kindly inform me of | the irrespective reasoning by which you have arrived at this result?' Well" replied. mo one but fool 1 who has the career before him that l have would spend his time sitting on l d three legged stool in a wood daub- ing, and no one but q knave would | make bvr to a girl without her fla | ther even knowing that he Is doing | It."
 It was decided that Bessie and | should be married in June. and l con 1 rluded for my prospective father-in- | laws sake-who must have noted man for his daughter. even if fool | to return to Brazil l told Bessie's | father that I should like to be mar | ried in the wood on carpet of June | roses. whereupon he said that he had had enough of that nonsense and | didn't wish any more of it. 1 So we were married in q very mat l ter of fact fashion at the brides home l cf course. and sailed q few days later l for my country
 | I am now one of the most prominent ! citizens of Brazil and consequently much out cf my element. l 1RIOSTTY