Evening star., 1914-01-25

Burmah wants to quit him and all the rest
of US and desert Port Hatch. There's an
other proof that Testers gone dippy, be
cause the first thing he does after getting
himself engaged is to announce that he ex-
poets to leave within a few days for 4 months
absence. And Burmah's got some new bug
in his noodle, because he's been shut up in
his room for two days working over some
thing, and walking up and down the floor.
and whistling. What do you think of that?
Whistling, HIM"
Pick gravely agreed with Little Billy that
they and Tommy were doubtless the only
sane persons in what was left Of the town
And if there was any doubt Of Burmahs
madness, he was to be convinced before
they were through talking by the appearance
of that man in person, walking briskly, with
his hat well down on the back of his head,
and mere rag of a cigar protruding from
between his lips. In his hand he carried a
sheet of paper.
Hello, Boys!1 he said by way Of greeting.
4You don't seem very busy. Well III try
to find somethin' for YOU to do pretty all
fired soon. We're goin' to hit some high
spots mighty quick now.
He seated himself at the table, and laid
his sheet of paper before him, and they
saw that 1t was covered with his minute
handwriting, with many painful erasures
dIlQ dlle1dtlOlS, DeJOkeH11lS TluCn InOuYnL
and care in its preparation.
"Now pay attention, he said, @because |
may leave for Seattle today, or tomorrow at
the latest, and | won't have whole lot of
time to talk to you before go. | want YOU
two boys to go over this and fix up the
grammar and the spellin SOS | won't make
a monkey of myself when | send it out
Then want about fifteen hundred circular
letters made out of it. It'll then be your job
to fill in the lot numbers there-where You'll
see blank. Fill EN- in with pen and ink.
Then mail one to each man that's pulled
out of Port Hatch and left his address be-
hind. Of course all of EN- have. The post
master'll tend to that part of it. Now here's
the next important thing. | don't want the
Colonel, or Arabella under no circum-
stances, to get wise to this. They ain to
know that these letters are bein' sent out
because the Colonel would get right in with
both feet, and tip the whole kettle of fish
into the ashes. Bring me up the proofs.
HE got to his feet and hurried back to his
room, as if time was now of the utmost
importance, and they took the paper between
them and read it with gasps and exclama-
tions. They made the few necessary cor
rections and then read it over again aloud.
and questioned more than ever whether
Burmah was still quite sane. 1t read:
DEAR SIR.-You are the owner of Lot -
Plot as filed in the office of the registrar Of
Port Hatch You have ii listed with the Port
Hatch Land Company for sale at s.
l in receipt of information that leads
me to believe there is strong probability that
we shall be able, despite its announcements to
the contrary. to induce the Atlantic & Oriental
Railway to make tbs city its terminus. have
not permission to give the sources of my infor-
nation; but assure you that believe them
trustworthy and entitled to the fullest Gre
dence. Indeed, so firm are my own convictions
on the subject that frankly advise you not to
sell.
IT, however you still desire to dispose of
your property at the ridiculously low price
offered. Colonel Alonzo Fairfax Hatch will pay
you that sum in cash on receipt of deeds trans
ferring the property jointly to him and his
daughter Miss Arabella Hatch. This offer
stands for thirty days from date; but mas
much as the number of deals may prove
many as to tax the Colonel's resources. should
there be many foolish enough to close out, You
are respectfully requested to give inn
mediate answer. Address or see me at the COM
pany's offices in Seattle.
Again urgently advising you to keep Your
property and to withdraw it from the market.
and renewing the assurance of my firm belief
that we shall eventually get the railway. am.
Sincerely yours. BURMAH JONES.
Little Billy threw the sheet on the table