St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-09-19

something that will require the exer-
else of great discretion" said the
president.
Il shall endeavor to do my best, :"
replied Sam.
Perhaps you remember that one
day last week a man was struck by
one of our trains near Lickskillet and
killed ?"
Yes, / heard of it,
well, l have been investigating
the matter, and l find that the engi-
neer was entirely to blame"
That's my impression, too"
And the worst of it is that the
man was married, and his wife has
got clear case against the compa-
ny We are liable to be mulcted-
yes, sir, actually mulcted in heavy
damages.
Very likely"
and what is more, the people of
Lickskillet are fanatically opposed to
railroads. A Lickskillet jury would
give that woman $4,000 as quick
as they would a cent. They are
down on the Transcontinental on
general principles And if we took
an appeal that would dous no good,
for she has a clear case of damages
Why, Mr.. Curtis, Lickskillet juries
have given verdicts of $500 against
us for running over razor-back hog
worth 81 25.'
II know it." said Sam. what do
you wish me to do ?"
go to Lickskillet and see the wild
'ow at once and get her to compro-
mise. Luckily, the matter has not
yet got into the papers, and possibly
the lawyers have not yet tempered
with her. If one of those Austin law
yers gets on to the case for a contin-
gent, all hope of a compromise is
gone"
Il understand
Use all your persuasive powers to
get her to compromise. Here is So
900 in cash. If you can compromise
the matter for that you will be emit
tied to the gratitude of the company.
These country people are an easy set
to fool, and you are the man to fool
them
Next day Sam Curtis knocked at
the door of a frame house in the sub
urbs of Lickskillet A sharp-faced
woman of about so years of age APP
peared.
Good morning, miss; I'd like to
see your mother, Mrs. Grigsby."
MY name is Mrs Grigsby"
Impossible! 1t can't be that so
young a girl as yourself is already
married"
The hard lines faded out of the wo-
mans face, and Sam was invited in.
Miss mean, madam, represent
the Texas Observation-Disclosures.
l came to confer with you in regard
to your late husband"
MY late husbandl" exclaimed the
woman, staring at him.
Don't become excited, madam.
It's sad affair, but l do not come
here to tear open the healing wound.
On the contrary | come as a minis
tering angel"
"Oh, you do, do you ?" replied the
woman, pensively.
Yes, madam. Although the COM
pany is not really responsible for the
accident, we do not desire any litiga-
ton"
Il read the other day where rail-
road company had to pay 500, 900
for running over man.
THAT was probably a different
case. Now, let us reason together.
Suppose you bring suit for $25, 900.
1t will be three years before the case
is tried, and by that time you won't
have any case left. A young and at
tractive widow like you will be mar
ried inside of a year. That would
knock the stuffing out of any damage
suit for killing your first husband"
But supposing | don't marry ~
Not a supposable case. Now l
hate to see as beautiful and intelli-
gent woman as you wasting her
sweetness on the desert air. If you
lived in San Antonio or Galveston
or Seguin, or some other Texas me-
tropolis you would be appreciated.
Why, my dear madam, some years
ago we compromised a case like this
and paid the widow a large sum of
money. Like yourself she was gifted
mentally and physically. With the
money she got from us she moved to
Houston. She was able to dress
fashionably, and in less than a week
she had nine offers of marriage. She
finally married a statesman, and
now she lives at Washington, is the
chum of Cabinet officers wives, and
drives out with foreign ambassa-
doris "
You don't tell me so. ~
Nov, that's what you ought to
do instead of throwing yourself
away by living in this little one-horse
town. Suppose l pay you $500 and
you sign this little document"
Make it $500 and I'll think OF
it"
After some more talk Mrs Grigsby
signed the release, Sam paid over the
money and returned to the hotel in
fine spirits.
'In giving woman taffy you can t
overdo it," unused Sam. Il guess the
boss will raise my salary for this. p"
Sans musings were interrupted by
a big man with revolver in his belt.
"Be you Samuel Curtis, the general
manager of the Transcontinental
railroad ?"
I'm the man." replied Sam.
"Then l sarve you with this here
paper"
what is it ?" asked Sam in aston
ishment
Its a citation in a damage suit
for $40, 900 by the widow Grigsby. "
"Some mistake, reckon. I've got
a release of all claim for damages,
signed by her less than ten minutes
ago"
Il reckon not She's not in town.
She is out on her rancho"
''What do you call this ?" asked
Sam, producing the document.
This is not signed by the widow
of the man who was run over.
What ?" gaSped Sam