bsent from the city in the interest of his employers, had
arranged before he started to have the presses going on the papers. The
end was in sight.

In fact, answers to their advertisements began to come the next
afternoon, and the proprietors were much elated. There were only a few,
to be sure,--not enough to cover the bottom of the big mail-box,--but
they indicated that their offers had been seen and appreciated. Even
Perner forgot his former misgivings and rejoiced. The answers were
coming. The paper was ready for the press. The long-looked-for hour was
at hand.

At dusk, however, came a slight shock.

Colonel Hazard came up with several letters. He remarked, handing them
to Perner:

"There are some queer people in the world. Read one or two of those
letters aloud."

Perner held one of the communications to the light. It said:

GENTLEMEN: I inclose you twenty good names of people likely
to be interested in your paper. Please send me the five
dollars as promised without delay. My birthday comes on
Saturday, and I want it before that time.

Yours hastily,
BESSIE GREEN.

"Humph! well named," said Van Dorn, while the others uttered various
exclamations. "Well, I'm sorry for Bessie, but I'm afraid she'll be
disappointed."

Perner selected another letter.

"This is from a boy," he commented; "his name is Robert Bright. You
wouldn't suspect it, however, from his communication.

"GENTLEMEN: Here are ure twentie naims. Now send mi five
dollers, and dont be so slo about it or i will have the
polese on ure track. I have ben foold one or twise by
advertisment fellers but this time i mean to have wat is
coming."

The exclamations that followed this possessed an added degree of
emphasis. Perner picked up a third letter.

"From a woman," he said.

"GENTLEMEN: I am sending the twenty names, and you don't
know how grateful I am or how happy it makes me to be able
to earn money for my little family, who are in need of the
necessaries of life. I hope you can send me the five dollars
to-night, and I am sure Heaven will reward you for your
great undertaking."

Nobody uttered a word for some moments. Then Livingstone said:

"Do you suppose there'll be many letters like that?"

And Van Dorn growled:

"Some people haven't got the sense they were born with. That
advertisement was as clear as sunlight."

"It was," said Perner; "I wrote