New-York tribune., 1912-02-25
A REpORT ON A FEVERED BROW
BY SEWELL FORD

Courtney backin over to the scttcc and slumpn down
patient with a newspaper wrapped bundle on his knee.
And there was nOthn LETT for me 10 do but trDt m
with the announcement. | finds Old Hickory with his
desk piled full Of mail and two stcnographers busy
takin dictaton; but, Pddc always rates Courtnoy
as preferred business, | follows suit.
"That Mellish ducks out there, says l.
"Eh2" says Mr. Ellins, shootn' a puzzled glance
at me from under the heavy eyebrows. What McIish
duck?'
"Thc travclin' collection box, says l. "T. Courtnev'
"Oh!" SAYS he "You mean Mr.. Mcllish, DO you,"
"If YOU re partic lar" says |, make it Mister
"ITuh!" grints Old Hickory and knew by that iuli.
tation smile of his I'd got in bad at the jump We'll
you remember young man, | will tell YOU that Mr.
Mcllish once held quite a responsible position, which he
lost through no fault Of his own"
"Yes, I've heard that from Piddic, says l.
"Havc Vou?" says he Then perhaps you will allow
me to add that | consider Mr. Alcish thoroughly
deserving as well a most slngularly unfortunate
y YES, Sir" says l. "Maybe I'd best rush him right
in, them"
And don't know whether It was sccin' Old Hickory
get up on his ear so sudden the shocked way the 'H9
lady typists was gawpin at me- but | couldn't help
GRIMM at EN-. Mr.. Ellins don't miss the bEn.",
either
at appears" he goes on sarcastic, chat YOU inl
something amusing in this affair.
Me-" says |. why, It ain. any Of my fun raI, /
guess. I don't know
"Out with il. nOw," breaks in Old Hickory. whats
funny about AIclsh-or me-
And there's no use tryin' 70 siicstcp when be come.
tt Won that wav Nv rule is to give il 10 him straight
why" says l. from the side lines it looks a. case
Of a smooth CRATER mcct'n an easy mark.
The typewriter ladies gaspcI, and looked tor n.'-
less than boiler explosion myself; but you never -
tell about Old Hickory. lie blows out a cylinder b
when YOU least expect it, and then, when you're bra.
Yourself for lar VcSuyuS act, he keeps as cool @
cake Of ice This was one Of his trapped times.
"Indccd," says he, rcachn' into plgeonhole a.i
pullin out a letter. Then we Will Just give go" sd
object lesson my son. the folly Of unounted p.'.-
dice Here is a recent letter from Mr.. MelIsh W.'.1
states his case fully. While YOU are waiting out-'
read it. I'll ring when I'm ready to see you again
Saw there's no rubber stamp 20 Old Hickory, Is i..
He's equal to maxim out new program for every '.
on the board he is II he wants 10 roast you-"..,
before you know It, You re done TO crSp' ana J. .
dont-wel. he hands you his private corresponae".
torcad.
TT was an odd framcup, though, Courtney ro">.
L placid on one side OF the rail, and me on the Of
goi1' over the evidence. And | must say that e..
touch episode this Exhibit was a work OF art. J.
written neat and careful in round founShy hanG +"
reg lar roscttcs at the bottoms OF the upper case
ali the final Gs and VS. finished of with shaded a..5
below the line Yes and the word palntn was some
hoSSv, too
"EsrEEMEp AND RESPECTED SIR" it starts ""..
"Oncc more venture 10 address you on the MATE .
nv i'll starred fortunes Sitting here in my squaha ',-
mcnt my very soul rackcd by rcmorSe and pity 10. .
Wrctchcd loved ones who patiently share the unnA
Fate that seems 50 rcmorSclcSSy TO pursue me, '.
forcing numbcd fingers to plead their cause IN my ON.
poor way.
There was more Of this preliminary stuff but II Was
when Courtney really gets down TO details that he begun
70 sDrcad the local color on thick Most Of one pag.
was all about little Master Ellns MeliSh; 50 II "'N