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About The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1911)
DYSPEPTIC PHIUSOPHY. i f f! ! t i l Tt ?r i 1 tf t K P GIRL I wxftim G5 t SYNOPSIS. At the expense of a soiled hat Herbert Orme saves from arrest a girl In a black touring car who has caused a traffic jam on State street. He buys a new hat and is given a five dollar bill with: "Remem ber person you pay this to." written on It. A second time he helps the girl In the black car and learns that in Tom and Bessie Walllngham they have mutual friends, but pets no further hint of her identity. In his rooms at the Pere Mar quette he telephones Bessie "Walllngham and agrees to golf at Arradale on the morrow. He discovers another inscrip tion on the marked bill, which, in a futile attempt to decipher, he copies and places the copy in a drawer. CHAPTER II. 8enor Poritol. When Orme answered the knock at the door a singular young man stood at the threshold. He was short, wiry, and very dark. His nose was long and' complacently tilted at the end. His eyes were small and very black. His mouth was a wide, uncertain silt In his hand he carried a light cane and a tilk hat of the flat-brimmed French type. And he wore a gray sack suit, pressed and creased with painful ex actness. "Come In, Senor Poritol," said Orme, motioning toward a chair. The little man entered, with short, rapid steps. He drew from his pocket a clean poqfcet handkerchief, which he unfolded and spread out on the surface of the table. Upon the handkerchief he carefully placed his hat and then, after an Ineffectual effort to make it fetand against the table edge, laid his cane on the floor. Not until all this ceremony had been completed did he appear to notice Orme. But now he turned, widening" Ills face 4nto a smile and extending his hand, which Orme took rather dubi ously it was supple and moist , "Oh, this is Mr. Orme, is It not?" "Yes," said i Orme, freeing himself from the unpleasant handshake. "Mr. Robert Orme?" "Ye3, that Is my name. What can I do for you?" For a moment Senor Poritol ap peared to hover like a timid bird; then he seated himself on the edge of a chair, only the tips of his toes touch ing the floor. His eyes danced brightly. "To begin with, Mr. Orme," he said, -I am charmed to meet you very charmed." He rolled his "rV after a fashion that need not be reproduced. "And In the second place," he contin ued, "while actually I am a foreigner In your dear country, I regard myself as In spirit one of your natives. I came here when a boy, and was edu cated at your great University of Princeton." "You are a Portuguese I Infer from your name," said Orme. "Oh, dear, no! Oh, no, no, no!" ex claimed Senor Poritol, tapping the floor nervously with his toes. "My country he freed himself from the Portuguese yoke many and many a year ago. I am a South American, Mr. Orme one of the poor relations of your great country." Again the widened smile. Then he suddenly be came grave, and leaned forward, his hands on his knees. "But this is not the business of our meeting, Mr. Orme." , "No?" Inquired Orme. "No, my dear sir. I have come to ask of you about the five-dollar bill which you received in the hat shop this afternoon." He peered anxious ly. "You still have it? You have not spent It?" "A marked bill, was it not?" "Yes, yes. Where is It, my dear sir, where is It?" "Written across the face of It were the words, 'Remember person you pay this to " "Oh, yes, yes." "And on the back of It "On the back of it!" gasped the lit tle man. "Was a curious cryptogram." "Do not torture me!" exclaimed Senor Poritol. "Have you got it?" His fingers worked nervously. "Yes," said Orme slowly, "I atlll have it" Senor Poritol hastily took a fresh five-dollar bill from his pocket. "See," he 6ald, Jumping to the floor, "here Is another Just as good a bill. I give this to you In return for the bill which was paid to you this afternoon." He thrust the new bill toward Orme, and iwaved his other hand rhetorically. "'That, and that alone, is my business with you, dear sir." Orme's hand went to his pocket The visitor watched the motion eag erly, and a grimace of disappointment contracted his features when the hand came forth, holding a cigar case. "Have one," Orme urged. In his anxiety the little man almost danced. "But, sir," he broko forth, "I mm in desperate hurry. I must meet & friend. I must catch a train." "One moment" interrupted Orme. "I can't very well give up that bill until I know a little better what it means. You will have to show me that you are entitled to it and" he smiled "meantime you'd better smoke." Senor Poritol sighpd. "I can as sure you of my honesty of purpose, sir," he said. "I cannot tell you about it I have not the time. Also, it is not my secret This bill, sir, is just as good as the other one." Tax Dodger Officials Forced to Believe That There Is Something New Under the Sun. e The best way of not paying taxes en your personal property is to swear off. By "swearing off" Is meant geing to the tax assessor and making a deposition that you really don't live where you seem to !ive, that you BILL "Very likely," said Orme dryly- He was wondering whether this was some new counteneltlng dodge. How easily most persons could be Induced to make the transfer! A counterfeiter, however, would hardly work by so picturesque and noticeable a method, unless ho were carefully disguised hardly even then. Was Senor Poritol disguised? Orme looked at him more closely. No, he could see where the roots of the coarse black hair joined the scalp. And there was not the least evidence of make-up on the face. Nevertheless, Orme did not feel warranted in giving up the marked bill without a definite explanation. The little man was a comic figure, but his bizarre exterior might conceal a dangerous plot He might be a thief, an anarchist, any thing. "Please, my dear sir, please do not add to my already very great anxi ety," pleaded the visitor. Orme spoke more decisively. "You are a stranger, Senor Poritol. I don't know what all this mystery conceals, but I can't give out that bill unless I know more about it and I won't," he added, as he saw Senor Poritol open his mouth for further pleading. "Very well," sighed the little man. He hesitated for an instant, then add ed: "I do not blame you for insisting and I suppose I must say to you every thing that you demand. No, I do not smoke too cigar, please. But if you do not object " He produced a square of cigarette paper and some tobacco from a silver-mounted pouch, and deftly rolled a cigarette with one hand, accepting a match from Orme with the other. Closing his eyes, he inhaled the smoke deeply, breathing it out through his nostrils. "Well' he hesitated, his eyes roving about the room as if in search of something "Well, I will explain to you why I want the bill." Orme lighted a fresh cigar and set tled himself to hear the story. Se nor Poritol drew a second handker chief from his pocket and mopped his damp brow. "You must know, my very dear sir," he began, "that I come from a country wuich is very rich in the resources of nature. In the unsettled interior are very great mineral deposits which are little known, and since the day when the great Vega made the first explora tion there has been the belief that the Urlnaba mountains hide a great wealth In gold. Many men for three hundred years have risked their most precious lives to go look for it But they have not found it No, my dear sir, they have not found it until But have patience, and you shall hear everything. "A few days ago a countryman of mine sent word that he was about to die. He asked that I, his early friend, should come to him immediately and receive news of utmost importance, xie was lying sick in the hotel of a small city in Wisconsin. He was a tobacco agent and he had been at tacked by death while he was on a business trip. "Filled with the heartbroken hope to see him once more before he died, I weat even as I was, to a train and made all haste to his bedside." "What was his name?" asked Orme. "Lopez," replied Senor Poritol promptly; and Orme knew that the answer might as well have been Smith. But the little man returned quickly to his story. "My friend had no strength left He was, oh, so weak that I wept to see him. But he sent the doctor and the priest out of the room, and then and then he whispered in my ear a secret He had discovered rich gold in the Url naba country. He had been trying to earn money to go back and dig up the gold. But, alas! now he was dying, and he wished to give the secret to me, his old friend. "Tears streamed on my cheek." Se nor Porltol's eyes filled, seemingly at the remembrance. "But I took out my fountain pen to write down the direc tions he wished to give. See this was the pen." He produced a gold-mounted tube from his waistcoat "I searched my pockets for a piece of paper. None ceuld I discover. There was no time to be lost, for my friend was growing weaker, oh, very fast In desperation I took a five-dollar bill, an-wrote upon it the direc tions he gave me for finding the gold. Even as I finished it, dear Lopez breathed his last breath." Orme puffed at his cigar. "So the bul carries directions for finding a rich deposit in the Urlnaba moun tains?" "Yes, my dear 6lr. But you would not rob me of it You could not un derstand the directions." "Oh, no." Orme laughed.- "I have no interest in South American gold mines." "Then accept this fresh bill," Im plored Senor Poritol, "and give me back the one I yearn for." Orme hesitated. "A moment more," he said. "Tell me, how did you lose possession of the marked bill?" The South American writhed in his ci air and leaned forward eagerly. "That is the most distressing part of all," he exclaimed. "I had left Chi cago at a time when my presence in this great city was very important in deed. Nothing but the call from a dy ing friend would have induced me tc Had hew One really don't own what you seem to own, and that while you appear to be a very rich man, you are really over burdened by debts which you have hitherto successfully concealed. Since personal taxes began, so many ways of swearing off have been invented that the tax authorities had come to believe that there was no new 'tax dodge under the sun. M WP" r " ' llll WillUr Mill 1 mil IId II - iHi UJIir willll JlH nfl II " Un U I II li IV II U' Jll lil tit H M IJIllI VI I iiiiii I I Ml m II UJaSHP I IRiin flfcs ImBh ILmnnnmnr. 3 Lint, MSTTwrYKKt The Struggle Lasted go away. My whole future in this country depended upon my returning in time to complete certain business. "So, after dear Lopez was dead, I rushed to the local railroad station. A train was coming in. I searched my pocket for my money to buy my tick et All I could find was the five-dollar bill! "It was necessary to return to Chi cago; yet I could not lose the bill. A happy thought struck me. I wrote upon the face of It the words you have seen, and paid it to the ticket agent I called his attention to the writing and implored him to save the bill if he could until I returned, and if not, to be sure to remember the person he gave It to." Orme laughed. "It does seem funny," said Senor Poritol. rolling another cigarette, "but you cannot Imagine my most frantic desperation. I returned to Chicago and transacted my business. Then I hastened back to the Wisconsin city. Woe Is me! The ticket agent had paid the bill to a Chicago citizen. I se cured the name of this man and finally found him at his office on La Salle street Alas! he, too, had 6pent the bill, but I tracked it from person to person, until now. my dear sir, I have found it? So " he paused and looked eloquently at Orme. "Do you know a man named Evans?" Orme asked. Senor Poritol looked at him in be wilderment "S. R. Evans," insisted Orme. "Why, no, dear sir I think not But what has that to do ?" Orme pushed a street of paper across the table. "Oblige me, Senor Poritol. Senor Poritol was apparently re luctant However, under the compul sion of Orme's eye, he finally took out his fountain pen and wrote the name in flowing script He then pushed the paper back toward Orme, with an in quiring look. "No, that isn't what I mean," ex claimed Orme. "Print It Print it in capital letters." Senor Poritol slowly printed out the name. Orme took the paper, laying it be fore him. He then produced the coveted bill from his pocketbook. Senor Poritol uttered a little cry of delight and stretched forth an eager hand, but Orme, who was busily com paring the letters on the paper with the letters on the bill, waved him back. After a few momenta Orme looked up. "Senor Poritol," he said, "why didn't you write the secret on a time table, or on your ticket, before you gave the bill to the agent?" Senor Poritol was flustered. "Why," he said uncertainly, "I did not think of that How can we explain the mis takes we make in moments of great nervousness?" "True," said Orme. "But one more point You did not yourself write your friend's secret on the bill. The letters which you have just printed are differently made." Senor Poritol said nothing. He was breathing hard. , "On the other hand," continued Orme, turning the bill over and eyeing the inscription on its face, "your mis take in first writing the name instead of printing it shows me that you did write the words on the face of the bill." He returned the bill to his pocketbook. "I can't give you the bill," he., said. "Your story doesn't hold together." With a queer little scream the South American bounded from his chair and flung himself at Orme. He struck no blow, but clawed desperate ly at Orme's pocket The struggle lasted only for a moment Orme, seizing the little man by the collar, dragged him, wriggling, to the door. "Now get out," said Orme. "If I find you hanging around I'll have you locked up." Senor Poritol whispered: "It is my But the tax authorities were mis taken. A few days ago a man came to the New York tax commissioners and asked to be relieved of his personal taxes. "I have only 5,000," he said, "and that money is In city bonds and is being held in trust" "For whom?" asked the tax com missioner. The question was unexpected and at first there was no answer, but the tax commissioner insisted. Finally, in a stage whisper, the swearer-off explained. Only for a Moment. secret Why should I tell you the truth about it? You have no right to know." Orme retained his bold. "I don't like your looks, my friend," he said. "There may have been reason why you should lie to me, but you will have to make things clear." He con sidered. After all, he must make al lowance; so he said: "Come back to morrow with evidence that you are entitled to the bill, and you shall have it" He released Senor Poritol. The little man had recovered his composure. He went back to the ta ble and took up his hat and cane, re folding the handkerchief and slipping it into his pocket Once more he was the Latin fop. Ie approached Orme, and his manner was deprecatory. "My most abject apologies for at tacking you, sir. I was beside myself. But if you will only permit me I will bring up my friend, who is waiting below. He wilL as you say, vouch for me." "Who is her "A very, very distinguished man.' Orme pondered. The adventure was opening up, and he felt inclined to see it through. Bring him," he said shortly. When Senor Poritol had disap peared Orme telephoned to the clerk. "Send me up a porter," he ordered, "and have him stand just outside my door, with orders to enter if he hears any disturbance." He waited at the door till the porter appeared, then told him to remain in a certain place until he was needed, or until the visitors left Senor Poritol remained downstairs for several minutes. Evidently he was explaining the situation to his friend. But after a time Orme heard the clang of the elevator door, and in response to the knock that quickly followed, he opened his own door. At the side of his former visitor stood a dapper foreigner. He wore a long frock coat and carried a glossy hat, and his eyes were framed by large gold spectacles. "This Is the Senor Alcatrante,' explained Senor Poritol. The newcomer bowed with suave dignity. "Senor Alcatrante? The name is familiar," said Orme, smiling. Poritol assumed an air. "He is the minister from my country to these United States." Orme understood. This was the wary South American diplomat whose name had lately been so prominent in the Washington dispatches. What was he doing in Chicago? "I am glad to meet you." said Orme. Alcatrante smiled, displaying a prominent row of uneven teeth. "My young friend, Poritol," he be gan, "tells me that you have In your possession the record of a secret be longing to me. What that secret Is, is immaterial to you and me, I take it He is an honorable young man excitable, perhaps, but well-meaning. I would suggest that you give him the five-dollar bill he desires, accepting from him another in exchange. Or, if you still doubt him, permit me to offer you a bill from my own pocket." He drew out a fat wallet The situation appeared to be sim plified. And yet Orme was dubious. There was mischief In the bill; so much he felt sure of. Alcatrante's reputation was that of a fox, and as for Poritol. he was, to say the least, a person of uncertain qualities. Orme could not but admire the subtle man ner In which Alcatrante sought deli cately to limit his doubts to the mere possibility that Poritol was trying to pass spurious money. He decided not to settle the question at this moment "This seems to1 be rather a mixed up affair. Senor Alcatrante," he said. "There is much more In it than ap pears. Call on me tomorrow morn ing and you shall have my decision." "The money is held In trust during his lifetime for my dog." Success Magazine. Child's Bravery Saved Lives. The story of a boy's heroism comes from the Melbourne district of Austra lia. Mrs. Williams had been boiling hops, and, thinking she had extin guished the fire, went out visiting to a neighbor, leaving three children in the house. The eldest boy, nine years of age, suddenly saw the ceiling alight. He ran after his mother, but Ar y r r y "BANNIJTERMERWIN TzMXTJIXAJTOMS copywoht io vaotxvnKO 9 cm Alcatrante and Poritol looked at each other. The minister spoke: Wlll you engage not to give the bill to anyone jrJtos in the 1' rvair "I will proflfc that," said Orme. "It is only fa&nres, I will keep the bill until tomorrow morning." "One other suggestion," continued Alcatrante. "You may not be willing to give up the bill, but is there any reason why you should refuse to let Senor Poritol copy the writing that Is on it?" "Only my determination to think the whole matter over before I do anything at all," Orme replied. "But the bill came into your hands by chance," insisted the minister. "The. information means nothing to you, though" obviously it means a great deal to my young friend, here. May I ask what right you have to deny this request?" "What right," Orme's eyes nar rowed. "My right is that I have the bill and the information, and I Intend to understand the situation better be fore I give the information to anyone else." "But you recognized Senor Porl tol's handwriting on the bill," ex claimed the minister. "On the face of it, yes. He did not write the abbreviations on the back." "Abbreviations!" exclaimed Poritol. "Please let the matter rest till morning." said Orme stubbornly. "I have told you just what I would do." Poritol opened his mouth to speak, but Alcatrante silenced him with a frown. "Your word is sufficient, Mr. Orme," he said. "We will call tomor row morning. Is ten o'clock 'too early V "Not at all," said Orme. "Doubt less I shall be able to satisfy you. I merely wish to think it over." With a formal bow, Alcatrante turned to the door and departed, Poritol following. 1 Orme strolled back to his window and stood idly watching the lights of the vessels on the lake. But his mind was not on the unfolded view before him. He was puzzling over this mys tery In which ho had so suddenly be come a factor. Unquestionably the five-dollar bill held the key to some serious problem. Surely Alcatrante had not come merely as the friend of Poritol, for the difference in the station of the two South Americans was marked. Poritol was a cheap character use ful, no doubt, in certain kinds of work, but vulgar and unconvincing Alcatrante, on the other hand, was a name to make statesmen knit their brows. A smooth trouble-maker, he had set Europe by tho ears in the matter of unsettled South American loans, dexterously appealing to the much-overworked Monroe doctrine Bending Over Him Was a Short, Sttcky Figure. every time his country was threatened by a French or German or British blockade. But his mind was of n small caliber. He could hold his owu not only at his own game of Interna tional chess, but In the cultured dis cussion of polite topics. Orme knew of him as a clever after-dinner speak er, a man who could, when he so de sired, please greatly by his personal charm. No, Alcatrante was no friend of Porltol's; nor was it likely that, as protector of the interests of his coun trymen, he would go so far as to ac company them on their errands un less much was at stake. Perhaps Poritol was Alcatrante's tool and had bungled some important commission. It occurred to Orme that tho secret of the bill might be connected with the negotiation of a big business conces sion In Alcatrante's country. "S. R. Evans" might be trying to get control of rubber forests or mines In tho Urlnaba mountains, perhaps, after all. In any event, be felt positive that the secret of the bill did not right fully belong to Poritol. If the bill had been in his possession, he should have been able to copy" the abbrevia ted message. Indeed, the lies that he told were all against the notion of placing any confidence In him. The two South Americans were altogether too eager. Orme decided to go for a walk. He could think better in the open air. He took up his hat and cane and descend ed the elevator. hearing the flames crackling, and see ing them spreading, he rushed back, entering the house, and dragged out bis brother and sister. By the time the boy was able to get hold of his sister the flames were within three feet of the floor. He was badly burnt himself, bJt the others escaped un hurt Tn short to be treated exactly like one of the family without the inalien able family right to say what he thinks of it. Life. a In the efjflce the clerk stopped hint. "A man called to see you a few minutes ago, Mr. Orme. Whea I told him that you were engaged with twe visitors he went away." "Did he leave his name?" asked Orme. "No, sir. He was a Japanese. Orme nodded and went on out ta tho street What could a Japan want of him? - f" CHAPTER Ilk The Shadows. Orme walked north along the Lake Shore drive. As best he could, he pieced together the curious adven tures of the day. The mystery of the five-dollar bill and the extreme anxi ety of Poritol seemed to be compile .cated by the appearance of the Japa nese at the Pere Marquette. Orme sought the simplest explanation. He knew that mysterious happenings fre quently become clear when one defi nitely tries to fit them into the natural routine of every-day life. The Jap anese, he mused, was probably some valet out of a job. But how could he have learned Orme's name. Possibly he had not known it; the clerk might have given it to him. The incident hardly seemed worth second thought, but he found himself persistently turn ing to one surmise after another con cerning tho Japanese. For Orme was convinced that he stood on the edge of a significant situation. Suddenly he took notice of a figure a short distance ahead of him. This man apparently very short and stocky was also going northward, but he was moving along in an erratic manner. At one moment he would hurry his steps, at the next he would almost stop. Evidently he was regu lating his pace with a purpose. Orme let his eyes travel still farther ahead. He observed two men actively conversing. From time to time their discussion became so animated that they halted for a moment and aced each other, gesticulating rapidly. Every time they halted, the single fig ure nearer to Orme slowed down his own pace. Tho oblivious couple came under a street lamp and again turned toward each other. Their profiles were dis tinct Orme had already suspected their Identity, for both had high hats and carried canes, and one of them was in a sack suit, while the other wore a frock coat And now the pro files verified the surmise. There was no mistaking the long, tip-tilted nose of the shorter man and the glinting spectacles of the other. The two were Poritol and Alcatrante. But who was the man trailing them? A friendly guard? Or a menacing en emy? Orme decided to shadow the shadow. At a corner not far from the en trance to Lincoln park Poritol and Al catrante became so apparently excited that they stood, chattering volubly for several minutes. The shadow stopped altogether. He folded his arms and looked out over the lake like any cas ual wanderer, but now and then he turned his head toward the others. He seemed to be Indifferent to what they were saying, though he was near enough to them to catch fragments of their conversation, if he so desired. The South Americans were probably talking In that dialect of Portuguese which their nation has developed. Meantime Orme also stopped, taking up a position like that of the shadow. He saw Poritol, with outstretched, questioning hands, his eyes fixed on the face of Alcatrante, who seemed to be delivering his orders. The flashing reflections of light from the minister's spectacles indicated his authoritative nods of the head. After a time Alcatrante evidently completed his Instructions. He re moved his hat and bowed formally. Little Poritol echoed the salute and, turning, shot off down a side street with ridiculously rapid movements of ais short legs. When the South Americans separa ted, the shadow quickly came to life. He hesitated for an instant, as if la doubt which of the two to follow, then decided in favor of Alcatrante, who was moving In leisurely fashion toward the park entrance, his head bowed la thought Orme found himself wonder ing what snaky plots were winding through that dark mind. The procession of three silently en tered the park. The shadow was about a hundred feet behind Alcatrante. Orme kept the same distance betweea himself and the shadow. The minister was In no hurry. In different to his surroundings he made his way, with no apparent interest In the paths he took. At last he turned into a dark stretch and for the mo ment was lost to sight in the night Suddenly the shadow darted for ward. Orme hurried his own pace, and In a moment he heard the sounds of a short, sharp struggle a scuffling of feet in the gravel, a heavy falL There was no outcry. Orme broke into a run. At a point where the path was darkest he checked himself for an instant A lit tle distance ahead a man lay flat on the ground, and bending over him was a short, stocky figure. (TO BE COXTI2TOXX The Vicious Circle. When Donald came in from school his face showed unmistakable signs of tears, and at the first symptoms of maternal affection they started to flow again. "Now, Donald boy, tell mother all about it What's the matter?" "Ze teacher she scolded me." "Well, we'll try and forget that, won't we? Never mind." "But, muzzer, zafs jes what she scolded me "bout She said I never did mind!" Youth's Companion. What the theater really seeds Is m Society for the PreveaUoa of Craelty to Audiences. Why are we supposed to have mora respect fer gray hairs tha for a bald head? A man can face the world with a good heart if he can also face it with a good liver. From a masculine point of view would it be heresy to question the sex of the devil? Some fat men are meaner than oth er men simply because there is mora of them. Many a man who thinks he Is la love lives to discover that second thoughts are best. : Some men are born- great, some ac quire greatness, and others have great ness thrust upon them, but it doesn't seem to take any of them long to get rid of it , Scrupulous. "What did Mr. Hibrow say when he found you standing under the mistle toe?" asked Maude. "He said it was not genuine mistle toe,' replied Maymie, "and that he could not think of taking advantage of a botanical error." INSIDE HISTORY. j tome Self-Explanatory Letters. Battle Creek. Mich., Jan. 7. L , Dr. E. H. Pratt. Suite 1202, 100 State St., ; Chicago, Illinois. ' My Dear Doctor: "Owing to some disagreement with magazine several years ago they have become quite vituperative, and of late have publicly charged me with falsehoods in my statements that we have genuine testimonial .let ters. "It has been our rule to refrain from publishing the names either of laymen or physicians who have writ ten to us in a complimentary way, and we have declined to accede to the demand of attorneys that we turn these letters over to them. "I am asking a few men whom I deem to be friends to permit me to reproduce some of their letters over their signatures in order to refute the falsehoods. "We have hundreds of letters from physicians, but I esteem the one that you wrote to me in 1906 among the very 'best, particularly in view of the fact that it recognizes the work I have been trying to do partly through the little book, 'The Road to Wellville.' "I do not sell or attempt to sell the higher thought which is more impor tant than the kind of food, but I have taken considerable pains to extend to humanity such facts as may have come to me on this subject "In order that your mind may be re freshed I am herewith enclosing a copy of your good letter, also a copy of the little book, and If you will give me the privilege of printing this over your signature' I will accompany the printing with an explanation as to why you permitted Its use In publi cation in order to refute falsehoods, and under that method of treatment I feel, so far as I know, there would be no breach of the code of ethics. "I trust this winter weather Is find ing you well, contented and enjoying the fruits that are yours by right "With all best wishes. I am," i Yours very truly, 1 C. W. POST. ' Dr. Pratt, who Is one of the most prominent and skillful surgeons in America, very kindly granted our re quest in the cause of truth and jus tice. Chicago, Aug. 31. 1906. Mr. C. W. Post. Battle Creek. Mich. ' My Dear Sir: "I write to express my personal ap preciation of one of your business methods, that of accompanying each package of your Grape-Nuts produc tion with that little booklet "The Road to Wellville," A more appro priate, clear headed and effective pre sentation of health-giving auto-suggestions could scarcely be penned. "Grape-Nuts Is a good food in itself, but the food contained in this little article is still better stuff. I commend the practice because I know that ths greed and strenuousness, the conse quent graft and other types of thiev ery and malicious mischief generally can never be cured by legislative ac tion. "The only hope for the betterment of the race rests in individual soul culture. "In taking a step in this direction, your process has been so original and unique that It must set a pace for other concerns until finally the whole country gets flavored with genuine, practical Christianity. "I shall do all that lies In my pow er to aid in the appreciation of Grape Nuts, not so much for the sake of the food itself as for the accompanying suggestions. "Visiting Battle Creek the other day with a friend. Dr. Kelly of Evanston. Illinois, while I was consulting with Mr. Gregory, my friend visited your factories and came away greatly amazed, not only at the luxurious fur nishings of the offices generally and the general equipment of the place, but with the sweet spirit of courtesy and kindness that seemed to fill the air with a spiritual ozone that was good to breathe. "The principles expressed in the little booklet. 'The Road to Well ville, I well know are practical and they work in business of all kinds, in cluding sanitarium'?, as will be fairly tested before time is done. "I know you will not regard this let ter of appreciation as an intruding one. It Is simply the salutation of good fellowship to you from a man who, although he has never seen you, feels drawn to you by the kinship of thought. "The only thing that makes a man live forever in the hearts of his coun trymen and his race is the good that he does. Your position in this respect is an enviable one and I wish to ex tend my congratulations." Youra respectfully. E. H. PRATT. & V. s A. . L A j. .. . .
