Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1902 — THE WEEKLY PANORAMA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE WEEKLY PANORAMA

AN AUTHOR OF PROMISE. Critics Highly Commend the Work of Harry Leon Wilson. Book reviewers, east and west, have given much pYaise to a recent novel, “The Spenders,” by Harry Leon Wilson. The following is an extract from the book: “It’s just a question of blackmail, isn’t it? What did you offer?” “Well, she has a slew of letters—

gettin’ them is a matter of sentiment and keepin’ the thing quiet. Then she claims to have a will made last December and duly witnessed, givin’ her the One Girl outright, and a million cash. So you can see she ain't anything ordinary. I told Coplen to offer her a million cash for everything rather’n have any fuss. I was goin' to fix it up myself and keep quiet about it." “But, damn it all, that’s robbery!" “Yes—but it’s her deal. You remember when Billy Brue was playin’ seven-up with a stranger in the TwoHump saloon over to Eden, and Chiddie Fogle the bartender called him up front and whispered that he’d jest seen the feller turn a jack from the bottom. ‘Well,’ says Billy, looking kind of reprovin’ at Chiddie, ‘it was his deal, wasn’t it?’ Now, it’s sure this blond party’s deal, and we better reckon ahead a mite before we start any rough-house with her. You’re due to find out if you hadn’t better let her turn her jack and trust to gettin’ even on your deal. You got a claim staked out in New York, and a scandal like this might handicap you in workin’ it. And ’tain’t as if hushin’ her up was something wa couldn’t well afford. And think of how it would torment your ma to know of them doin’s, and now ’twould shame Pish in company. Of course, rob’ry is rob’ry, but mebbe it’s our play to be sporty like Billy Brue was.’’