The Washington herald., 1921-03-27

sent the shook to the Burnett House, .srs-
gested that the actor again get in touch with
the proprietor and have. it hunted up.
Wilson wrote once or twice afterward,
saying that no trace had been found OF
the book Riley was sensitive and thought
that the tone of Wilson'S letters implied
a doubt of his having sent the book. He
thereupon retired within himself and wrote
no more letters.
Nothing happened for a year. Then,
suddenly, there came an explosive letter
from Wilson. The great mystery had been
solved. Wilson explained that, after much
wandering, he had gone to Chicago. There
he had visited venerable bookstore with
which he was well acquainted. The proprie-
tor greeted him efusively and told him that
there was package awaiting him, that it
had come for him months before and had
been carefully put away. 1t was produced.
The address was to Wilson, in care Of
the bookstore. The handwriting was that
of James Whitcomb Riley. Wilson had
hurriedly opened the package and it was
the Eugene Field book with the Riley arto-
graph.
But Riley did not know of the existence
of the Chicago bookstore, had never heard
of it, had sent the book to Cincinnati.
when l pressed him for an explanation
he beat the arm of his chair excitedly with
his sound hand and shouted:
"'Gene Field did that Gene Field did
it! He had been sitting up there on
time
CESATOR NEW impresses upon his
Slisteners the great earnestness of the poet,
the fact that this was accepted as a con-
crete happening, just like fire, a murder
or an election.
Then Riley produced the second bit Of
evidence" continued the senator. "This
time the plot revolved around one of those
three or four best loved men of their genera
tion. Robert Louis Stevenson.
when Stevenson died his publishers
sent a letter to Riley asking if he would
not write for them an appreciation of
the author of Treasure Island Riley
did so and his tribute was widely printed.
The publisher thcreupon sent Riley a check
1T was characteristic of Riley that he
sent the check back. He explained that he
had paid his tribute to his dead friend
because he loved him. He could not ac-
cept pay for the thing he had done in the
spirit of friendship.
The publisher replied that a great benefit
had been received from the thing Rile.
had written and that he wanted to proffe
some appreciation in return. Had he an.
set of books that Riley would like? -
The poet said that he had no complet
set of Stevenson, and, since the publishe
had all these books modestly bound, b
would be glad to accept a set of them.
Then he waited for the books to arrive
but they did not come. Finally he dismisse
the matter from his mind. 1t was merel
one of those little affairs of life that di
not work through.
''The months passed ~ and finally tha
season arrived which marked the anniver
sary of the birth of the poet. Bright an
early on his birthday morning the expires
man came wbistling Up the walk of tn
house in Lockerbie street and left a larg
package for Riley.
The poet cut the strings with his oil
jackknife and there was the set of Steven
son come to hand at the moment whe,
remembrances are most appropriate.
" Don't you see?' he insisted, agai,
pounding the chair in great excitement
Stevenson held up those books and ha,
them delivered on my birthday. It's fact
It's a fact""
Senator New explained that Jim Rile
was one of those genial, lovabIe, ire
sponsibe individuals who are law unit
themselves. Like most such men, he wa
very sensitive, and there were certain thing
that set him off and against which he raile,
stormily.