aluable to us that we should settle a sum on him that will
make him a rich man as men go in the Ridge. Heaven knows that is
little enough, considering all that he has done. He may have his
faults, Jane, but he has been loyal to me.

"I hope, my dear, that Jeanette has ceased to worry about the other
matter; he is not worth her tears. Don't come home for a month or
two yet. The same conditions prevail that I spoke of in my first
cable the day of the indictment. The press and the public are
perfectly crazy. America is one great howling mob, and it would make
you and Jennie unhappy. As for me, I don't mind it. You know me."

And that the reader may know how truthful John Barclay is, let us
append herewith a letter written by Mrs. Mary Barclay, of Sycamore
Ridge, to her granddaughter at Naples, January 15, 1904. She writes
among other things:--

"Well, dear, it is a week now since your father's case was settled,
and he was at home for the first time last night. I expected that
his victory--such as it was--would cheer him up, but some way he
seems worse in the dumps than he was before. He does not sleep well,
and is getting too nervous for a man of his age. I have the
impression that he is forever battling with something. Of course the
public temper is bitter, dearie. You are a woman now, and should not
be shielded and pampered with lies, so I am going to tell you the
truth. The indignation of the people of this nation at your father,
as he represents present business methods, is past belief. And
frankly, dearie, I can't blame them. Your father and my son is a
brave, sweet, loving man; none could be finer in this world, Jennie.
But the head of the National Provisions Company is another person,
dear; and of him I do not approve, as you know so well. I am sending
you Neal Ward's statement which was published by the government the
day after the case was dismissed. I have not sent it to you before,
because I wanted to ask your father if it was true. Jennie, he
admits that Neal told the truth, and nothing but the truth--and did
not make it as bad as it was. You are entitled to the facts. You are
a grown woman now, dear, and must make your own decisions. But oh,
my dear little girl, I am heartsick to see your father breaking as
he is. He seems to be fighting--fighting--fighting all the time;
perhaps it