aracter and loyal
devotion to yourself pointed him out as the best man for our purposes
in Honolulu--the parties on the spot being difficult to manipulate. A
man called Billy Fowler (you must have heard of Billy) is the boss;
he is in politics some, and squares the officers. I have hard times
before me in the city, but I feel as bright as a dollar and as strong
as John L. Sullivan. What with Mamie here, and my partner speeding
over the seas, and the bonanza in the wreck, I feel like I could
juggle with the Pyramids of Egypt, same as conjurers do with
aluminium balls. My earnest prayers follow you, Loudon, that you may
feel the way I do--just inspired! My feet don't touch the ground; I
kind of swim. Mamie is like Moses and Aaron that held up the other
individual's arms. She carries me along like a horse and buggy. I am
beating the record.

"Your true partner,

"J. PINKERTON."

Number two was in a different style:--

"MY DEAREST LOUDON,--How am I to prepare you for this dire
intelligence? O, dear me, it will strike you to the earth. The flat
has gone forth; our firm went bust at a quarter before twelve. It
was a bill of Bradley's (for two hundred dollars) that brought these
vast operations to a close, and evolved liabilities of upwards of two
hundred and fifty thousand. O, the shame and pity of it, and you but
three weeks gone! Loudon, don't blame your partner; if human hands
and brains could have sufficed I would have held the thing together.
But it just slowly crumbled; Bradley was the last kick, but the
blamed business just _melted_. I give the liabilities--it's supposed
they're all in--for the cowards were waiting, and the claims were
filed like taking tickets to hear Patti. I don't quite have the hang
of the assets yet, our interests were so extended; but I am at it day
and night, and I guess will make a creditable dividend. If the wreck
pans out only half the way it ought we'll turn the laugh still. I am
as full of grit and work as ever, and just tower above our troubles.
Mamie is a host in herself. Somehow I feel like it was only me that
had gone bust, and you and she soared clear of it. Hurry up. That's
all you have to do.

"Yours ever,

"J. PINKERTON."

The third was yet more altered:--

"MY POOR LOUDON," it began, "I labour far into the night getting our
affairs in order; you could