The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-11
AN OLD MANS WOE.
An Old Farmer Falls in Love With and
Marries Dashing Lady and is
Stripped of Nearly all His
Worldly Wealth.

a prosperous farmer OF THIS county. he
lived on well kept farm above Moline.
He was widower, and not having any
home attractions, he frequently visited
that paradise of sin and wickedness-
Davenport. On one of his visits he met
an interesting young widow. She was
the mother of one child, a charming
young daughter who was just budding
into womanhood. The widow smiled upon
the attentions of the old gentleman and
he felt flattered. Although her reputa-
ton was slightly smirched, the old fellow,
if he knew it, entirely ignored this fact
and continued 10 pay court at the shrine of
beauty The result of the matter was
they were married and after brief hon
eymoon settled down on the old Allen
farm. Country life was too slow and dull
for the old mans darling, after the lively
city life she had led, and she soon induced
the aged spouse to sell the farm and re
move to the city. After casting about for
it was finally concluded that the hotel
business was about the proper thing
The new wife thereupon induced her hus
band to purchase the Revere house, in
Moline from Stephen Buck, which he did
and the name Of the hostelry was changed
to the fremont house, in honor of past
associations of the charming bride.
Money was lavishly spent in refurnishing
the hotel with all modern conveniences,
and the result was that Mr.. Aliens sur
plus cash soon began to melt, as snow
beneath the warm sunlight. A curious
feature of the business. and one which the
old gentleman does not seem to have
known, was that the house was known as
being conducted by Mrs. Allen. The
register bore her name, and all transact
ions were in her name. Although the
husband paid all the bills he was entirely
ignored in business matters. The hotel
never paid the original expense in fur
nishing it, together with the extravaganza
manner in which it was subsequently
conducted caused a continual drain upon
the financial resources of the embeciliC
old man, and finally he awakened to a
realization of the stern fact that his for
tune was slowly but surely dwindling out
of sight After mature delberation, it
seems, the befuddled granger concluded
to escape from the wrath to come, and a
week ago he secured 1890 which was
still due him on his farm, and quietly left
the hotel He has not been seen since.
Where he has gone is a mystery, but it is
supposed he is in Davenport.
Being little short of money some time
ago, Mr.. Allen induced lack Einfeldt, a
prosperous farmer on the Moline bluff, to
sign note with him for $500. Now
lack offers liberal reward to anyone who
will put him upon the track of the veneer
able gentleman. Attachments were some
time ago issued against the hotel in favor
of unpaid creditors, and these were for a
time quieted by mortgages. Recent devel
opments have frightened the creditors
again, and this afternoon Constable Nal
coin foreclosed on the property and the
fremont house is no more pro TEN
How the matter will close is unknown al
this writing, but it seems that David
Allen, having awakened to the fact that
he has made fool of himself, has con
Guided to let his second love and hel
daughter paddle their own canoes, which
judging from past performances, they are
| abundantly able to do.
Later-It has been learned since the
above was in type that Mr.. Allen has
been found, and negotiations are pending
for an amicable settlement of the whole
business.