Aldrich wrote, now, violently declaring the perpetrator of the outrage to be known to the police; that a sprawling yellow figure against a green background had been recognized as an admirable likeness of Mark Twain, alias the jumping Frog, a well-known Californian desperado, formerly the chief of Henry Plummer’s band of road agents in Montana.  The letter was signed, “T.  Bayleigh, Chief of Police.”  On the back of the envelope “T.  Bayleigh” had also written that it was “no use for the person to send any more letters, as the post-office at that point was to be blown up.  Forty-eight hogs-head of nitroglycerine had been syrupticiously introduced into the cellar of the building, and more was expected.  R.W.E.  H.W.L.  O.W.H., and other conspirators in masks have been seen flitting about the town for some days past.  The greatest excitement combined with the most intense quietness reigns at Ponkapog.”

XV.

LETTERS FROM HARTFORD, 1875.  MUCH CORRESPONDENCE WITH HOWELLS

Orion Clemens had kept his job with Bliss only a short time.  His mental make-up was such that it was difficult for him to hold any position long.  He meant to do well, but he was unfortunate in his efforts.  His ideas were seldom practical, his nature was yielding and fickle.  He had returned to Keokuk presently, and being convinced there was a fortune in chickens, had prevailed upon his brother to purchase for him a little farm not far from the town.  But the chicken business was not lively and Orion kept the mail hot with manuscripts and propositions of every sort, which he wanted his brother to take under advisement.

Certainly, to Mark Twain Orion Clemens was a trial.  The letters of the latter show that scarcely one of them but contains the outline of some rainbow-chasing scheme, full of wild optimism, and the certainty that somewhere just ahead lies the pot of gold.  Only, now and then, there is a letter of abject humiliation and complete surrender, when some golden vision, some iridescent soap-bubble, had vanished at his touch.  Such depression did not last; by sunrise he was ready with a new dream, new enthusiasm, and with a new letter inviting his “brother Sam’s” interest and investment.  Yet, his fear of incurring his brother’s displeasure was pitiful, regardless of the fact that he constantly employed the very means to insure that result.  At one time Clemens made him sign a sworn agreement that he would not suggest any plan or scheme of investment for the period of twelve months.  Orion must have kept this agreement.  He would have gone to the stake before he would have violated an oath, but the stake would have probably been no greater punishment than his sufferings that year.

On the whole, Samuel Clemens was surprisingly patient and considerate with Orion, and there was never a time that he was not willing to help.  Yet there were bound to be moments of exasperation; and once, when his mother, or sister, had written, suggesting that he encourage his brother’s efforts, he felt moved to write at considerable freedom.