Possibly you consider our subscription books as such; I do not. But if
they are, go ahead twice as hard. What if it does give the enemy a weapon
in case McCune is nominated; if he is (and I begin to see a danger of it)
we will be with the enemy. I do not carry my partisanship so far as to
help elect Mr. McCune to Congress. You have been as non-committal in your
editorials as if this were a fit time for delicacy and the cheaper
conception of party policy. My notion of party policy--no new one--is that
the party which considers the public service before it considers itself
will thrive best in the long run. The 'Herald' is a little paper (not so
little nowadays, after all, thanks to you), but it is an honest one, and
it isn't afraid of Rod McCune and his friends. He is to be beaten,
understand, if we have to send him to the penitentiary on an old issue to
do it. And if the people wish to believe us cruel or vengeful, let them.
Please let me see as hearty a word as you can say for Halloway, also. You
can write with ginger; please show some in this matter.

"My condition is improved.

"I am, very truly yours,

"JOHN HARKLESS."

When the letter was concluded, he handed it to Meredith. "Please address
that, put a 'special' on it, and send it, Tom. It should go at once, so as
to reach him by to-night."

"H. Fisbee?"

"Yes; H. Fisbee."