The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-08-13
MRS. WARMERS PURCHASE

Mary Warner was the richest woman
Ill California, if not, indeed, the richest
woman in the world Her husband
had accumulated his fortune in rail.
road ventures, and had died before he
mad time to lose it again. Possessed
OF sound sense, and blessed with
]ud1clous advisers, Mrs. Warner di-
vided her Investments between inn
proved real estate and government Sc
rurlties, and devoted herself to the
Improvement of her leisure. Two
years after her husbands death she
celebrated her iiftieth birthday. Her
house on California street was one
OF the most magnificent in San Fran
CISCO, but during the protracted inter
val OF her mourning it had not been
the scene OF any such festivities as it's
generous size and costly garniture be-
fitted.
Mrs. Warner acceded to her friends
wishes and left her quiet home at
Menlo park to entertain all San Fran.
cisco at the warner Palace" without
great reluctance, but certainly with
out enthusiasm. The music, the flow
ers and the supper were the best that
could be had. Mime. Luque, a woman
who had subsidized from the brief pros.
perity OF the Ranch Luque Mines into
n position OF decent independence up
on Mrs. Warmers bounty, made all
the arrangements and relieved her
friend OF even the task of entertaining
her guests.
Mrs. Warner ensconced herself in a
cosy corner of the conservatory, ac-
companied by Mr.. Richard Headly,
the managing editor OF the San Fran
cisco Journal. Mr.. Headly was only
80 years old-a young man to control
the most important daily in San Fran
cisco-hut his discretion and ability
had more than justified his advance
ment.
.'Well, Dick said Mrs. Warner,
''and why haven't you been down to
Menlo lately? You are not going to
forget your old friends now that you
are becoming a great man, surey?"
"No, indeed, dear Mrs. Warner" i"
said Headley, "but the responsible
ties of my position, rs what you call
"a great man keep me pretty busy.
You see, every man on the staff, from
the city editor to the sporting report
or, thinks thai he would have filled
poor Duncan's berth iniinitelyhbetter
than | do, and | have to work with
both hands to keep out OF trouble"
~ always knew you had it in You,
and I'm as proud and happy as can
be. But what is this | hear about the
Journal changing hands?'
"Tm afraid its true. eastman
wants to 90 abroad and loaf the rest
of his life, and l don't blame him.
He's made more than enough money,
and he may as we'll enjoy it. think
it will be bought by asyndicate, head
ed by the Flynns.'
"And how will that affect you?'
"Throw me ont in short order The
Flynns have never forgiven me for at.
tacking them when | was on the Her
aid, and they would give my chair to
old Parsons, anyway There's no use
pretending | don't feel badly about it,
because do. | shall have to start
fresh somewhere else, and shall hardly
have such luck again
Mrs. Warner looked at him kindly,
4 I, u, 4
not a pretty hand; as n girls hand it
had been almost too round and dim
pied, and it had lost all of its shapli-
ness since then.
"Dick, how much does the journal
make"
"F'ifty thousand a year in round
numbers. Sometimes there are big
subsidies that run it over that, but
fifty thousand is fair estimate"
And how much does Mr.. eastman
expect to get from this syndicate for
the paperg'
"They talk about capitalizing it at
10000 shares at S160 each, but
think about 100000 will come to
eastman. The paper is worth that
fairly enough
"And what are your plans, Dick?
You talk about making a fresh start,
but where will you make it?''
~ think shall go east. Reece, the
man who writes the column ofcausene
every Sunday, you know, wants to go
back to England, and he is anxious to
have me 90 with him. But | don't
fancy making such q change. | have
written so much Americanese that |
don't think could get into the swing
Of the formal English style; and then
it seems like running away, too"
"Dick, Pm going to be a great socie-
ty woman now. Nine. Luque wants
me to 20 abroad and live at Nice-but
Pm like you, fond of my own country
and mean to live here and make the
house pleasant fory young people. That
is what a rich old woman ought to do
isn't it,"
"Old woman, indeed! You're as
Young as any ofus now, Mrs. WarnerH
:Indeed Pm not. Pm developing Il
taste for buttered toast-and that
settles the matter, Mr.. Dutfon says.
But Pm going to entertain a great
deal, all the same-and Pm dreadful.
ly a1ralu Oh tue SoCie0y SoiutihS III tiie
Journal. Suppose they should say
that the flowers at this reception only
cost $500 instead OF 500. It's an
e,wful power, that society,column, and
should like to propitiseSe it. Why
shouldn't | buy the Journal, Dick?"
II would if l were you-tive cents a
copy or Is cents week. l thought
Won did, already
mo, Pm not joking at all. If it is
S7OO, 900 / have that much in shape
that could use it, and you could be
my sole editor. Will you?"
''No, Mrs. Warner, won't. Itwould
not be wise investment. It pays