The Little River news., 1920-08-14

three years of silence, due to my stu pidity and hardness of heart it is, per haps, better to make haste slowly.
 "To begin, I should like to be for given, on the broad general grounds that I am most almighty sorry for what I went and done Am l forgiv- en? 1 seem to see your friendly old face and hear you answer Aye, and with this load off my chest at last I believe I feel better already.
 Jack, you poor, deluded old piece of white meat, do you think for a mo- ment that I held against you your testimony for the operators in Cripple Creek? I thought you believed the charges and that you testified in a erm belief that I was the guilty man. as all of the circumstantial evidence seemed to indicate. I thought this for three long, meagre years, old friend, and I'm sorry. After that, I suppose there isn't any need for me to say more, except that you are an old fool for not saying you were going to spend your money and your time and reputation trying to put my halo back on straight! I doubt If I was worth it, and you knew that; but let 1t pass, for we have other fish 10 fry.
 '"The nubbin of the matter is this: There is only one good gold mine left in this weary world-and I have It. It's the sweetest wildcat I ever struck, and We stand the finest show in the world of starving to death if we tackle 1t without sufficient capital to go through. It will take at least thirty thousand dollars, and we ought to not know whether you have, or can raise, sixty cents, but at any rate am going to put the buck up to you and you can take look.
 ''This is a pretty fair country, Jack If you survive long enough to get used to 1t. At first you think it's Par adise; then you grow to hate 1t and know 1t for hell with the lid off; and finally all your early love for 1t re- turns and you become what I am now "a tropical tramp! There Is only one social stratum lower than mine, and that's the tropical beachcomber. l am not that-yet and will not be If my landlady will continue to listen to my blandishments. She is a sweet soul, with a divine disposition, and I am duly grateful.
 ''I would tell you all about the geog- rHphy, topography, flora and fauna of SObrante, but you can ascertain that in detail by consulting any stand- ard encyclopedia. Governmentally the country Is similar to It's sister re- publics. It's a cold day indeed when two patriots, two viva's and couple of old Long Tom Springfield rifles cannot upset the Sobrante apple cart. We haven't had q revolution for near ly six months, but we have hopes.
 T am addressing you at the Engi- neers' club, In the hope that my letter may reach you there, or perhaps the secretary will know your address and forward it to you. If you are foot loose and still entertain a lingering regard for your old pal, get busy on this mining concession P. D. Q. Time is the essence of the, contract, be- cause I am holding on to the thin edge of nothing, and if we have a change of government I may lose even that. I need you, John Stuart Web ster, worse than I need salvation. I enclose you list of equipment re- quired.
 eff you receive this letter rrd can do anything for me, please cable. If you cannot, please cable anyway Do let me hear from you, Jack, if only to tell me the old entente cordiale still exists. I know now that I was con- siderable of needless pup few years ago and overlooked my hand quite reg. ularly. but now that I have a good thing I do not know of anybody with whom care to share 1t except your own genial self. Please let me hear from you.
 "Affectionately,
 BILLY"
 Jerome finished reading this remark able communication then with in- finite amusement he regarded John Stuart Webster over the tops of his glasses as one who examines new and interesting species of bug.
 "So Billy loves that dear Sobrante, eh?" he said with abysmal sarcasm.