The Alaska citizen., 1917-01-29

was Annie. but she was better known in the colorful and expressive idi0u Of Rampant. us "Short-and- Dirty" The nickname I assure you. was not unwarranted. The lady who Ian euishes in your local bastle as the result of the evil influences you so generously attribute 10 her associa- ton with me. may be the same I don't know. | am led 10 believe it is, for recall no other Annie" in Rampant. and the one | knew was even at that time marked with a rayenous appetite for booze.
 You will doubtless find yeriaca- ton for your assertion that she was my former wife, when confess that the same roof sheltered both Of Us for a time But it SD happened that it likewise sheltered five other white men, two of whom had come from the States with me in search ot gold and glory. These two young men, each now prosperous in business. were my partners. They will un doubtedly find much interest in your story of my past. But, to return to that roof-alas, it, and Annie her self, belonged to another-a man from whom my partners and l had taken a mining lease. I regret to state that we were not q happy family-even during the brief inter val that We all dwelt there together, Memory tells me that one reason l left that roof and sought another was because Annie, my 'sourdough' associates helpmate, insisted upon boiling frozen fish heads in d to- mato can and eating the eyes while We college boys were at our meals. It was not appetizing to try to eat while those fishcraniums were being vacuum cleaned Nor were Annie's other habits those to which we were accustomed in our homes.
 Anyhow, l moved. I am moved now, to tears, at the thought that, all unwittingly, I injured the maid ems prospects, wrecked her later 1 life and became a squaW-man, by refusing to stand for those fish heads.
 "I am assuming, of course, that the incorporate lady mentioned in your columns and my ex-associate's light O love are one and the same. But l hear you scoff l hear you exclaim. 'Ha, the wretch betrays himself Another's wife forsooth This Beach has written nothing but lies about Alaska This is q gross libel upon the name of her fair daughters and constitutes bis crown ing infamy.'
 Tn the light of those mortifying disclosures contained in your digni- fled editorial page of September 25th, am reminded that mans evil deeds will rise to plague him, and I am constrained to advise all young men that they cannot be too careful in sowing their wild oats, lest, surer | than shooting, some insane editor will harvest them, and offer them i for public sale.
 My dear Alaska Citizen, you can not know what emotions you have 1 aroused in this breast of mine by ] thus prying into past which l con- i sidered dead and gone, nor with what feelings I shall paste your clipping into my scrap-book, after it has gone the rounds of those other fellows who knew 'Short-and-Dirty IL has the makings of a splendid press story in it, and l trust you will par don me if avail myself of that fact, giving due credit, of course, to The Alaska Citizen
 Tn closing, permit me to assure you that you have added greatly to the enjoyment of dull winter, even though that enjoyment is tempered 1 by the melancholy conviction that your paper is edited by maniac,
 "Admiringly and sympathetically yours,
 REX BEACH"
 We'll, Rex, old sport, We are glad 1 you wrote us. We are more than glad that there is no foundation to