Mower County transcript., 1888-02-29
JOHN DALES FAILURE.
What g. True Wife's Devotion Did
for Him.

What a True Wife's Devotion Did
for Him.
John Dale was one of the richest
men in Bondburg. He was still OH
the sunny side of forty, but gray
haired business men and fnanciers
consulted him upon the most impor-
tant matters, and whenever it was
known that John Dale was connected
with any enterprise, the success of the
project was assured.
Dale was lavish in his expenditures,
and his beautiful wife did not try to
restrain him. Mrs Dale outshone the
younger beauties and bellies of the
place, and her husband was proud of
her.
In Bondburg the main staple of talk
was the Dales, their movements, their
extravaganza, and their good fortune
Sometimes old men shook their
heads, but every thing that Dale
touched seemed to turn into gold
The young speculator established
bank, and built 4 railroad, and took
hold Of dozen other big enterprises.
The entertainments at the Dale man.
sion were on a scale of magnificence
never seen before in that part of the
country. Among the invited guests
were millionaires who travelled in
special cars. It was common thing
for people to rush across the continent
to see the Dales.
John Dale was so prosperous and so
happy that he never paused to count
his friends and enemies. He wished
every body well, and he took it for
granted that his townsmen liked him.
1t was true that old Steele, the money
lender, held himself aloof, but Dale
gave him credit for being eccentric.
and thought very little about it.
II would not be in that mans shoes
for any thing,' said Dale one day to
several of his friends. "He does not
know how to enjoy life.''
So Dale went on driving fast horses,
and dazzling his neighbors with his
entertainments, while old Steele grew
thinner, uglier and more wretched
looking every day.
When business was dull in Bondburg
something always turned up to give
the town boom. Dale was a man of
ideas, and when he saw the town lag
ging behind he was always ready with
a brilliant scheme to push it forward.
The financial crash Of 49, was a
terrible disaster. It was felt not only
in the great cities but in the smaller
towns as we'll. In Bondburg the Oldest
business houses went to the wall.
When man is in trouble he finds
OH: his real friends and enemies. The
panic struck jain Dale at bad time
AT first he was confident that he would
come out all right. He borrowed
right and left and made brave effort
to push his way through. He even
called on Steele, but the old usurer
told him that loan was out of the
question.
One day it was whispered that Dale
would have to go under, and That he
would be left several hundred thou.
sand dollars in debt. That night
there was reception at his house, and
many of the guests went simply out Of
curiosity. They wanted to sec how
the great spnculator would look on
the eve of his failure. If these people
expected to see crushed man they
were disappointed. The entertain.
ment was the most delightful of the
season. Dale's bright and handsome
face showed not the slightest trace O.
care, and his wife was in her mos
charming mood.
"Thcy are frivolous people," sale
one Of the guests to old Steele earl,
the next morning. II gave Dale credi
for being q thoughtful man, but he
and his wife seem to be too olight-mind
cd to appreciate the gravity of the sit
uation.'
"They will appreciate it to-day
said Steele, grimly. 81 have got holt
OF a lot of Dale's paper, and L am go
ing to close down. You will sec m.
lord and my lady come to grief." ;"
TIE news of Dale's failure crcatc<
quite sensation, but scores of bust
ness men remarked that they were no
at all surprised, and that they hat
been looking for it all along.
"And he will have nothing left,
said merchant to Mr.. Steele, "not
cent, will hep"
"No,' replied Steele, "he will b
worse off than a beggar, because h
will be heels over head in debt Their
will be a meeting of the principa
creditors tomorrow, and the resul
may land Dale in the penitentiary."