Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-02-23

"oooD NEWS. MI SON." SIZE SAID.
was talking to Mrs. Dclaro when he
said this. She quickly replied:
"Oh, no, ! do not think matters are
quite as serious as that But how Is 1t
about the woman's supposed husbandf
Has she forgotten him amid the new
excitement?"
mo. indeed, she has not On the con-
trary she promises to spend her money
when she gets 1t for tho purpose OF try
ing to find her husband"
THAT reminds mo to ask II you have
yet hoard any thing from Percy" was
Mrs. Delaros next question.
mo. have not and 1t is causing me
much concern. have sent message
after message, but no reply comes and
tomorrow have made up my mind to
cable the American Consul ut Buenos
Ayrcs and ask him to investigate. 1t Is
getting serious and steps must be taken
at once to find out where he Is" A Sec
ond later the aged friend Of the Delaro
family spoke up suddenly and asked:
ibid you hear that Mr. Howe, part
ner Of Mr.. Emerick's, Is dead?"
mo, I did not" replied Mrs. Delaro.
"It occurred some time ago." said Mr..
Wilcox. land heard downtown that this
limerick is returning from Buenos
Ayres. having closed out his business
there. Also that he Is going to sell out
altogether. lie is rather queer fish, !
am told, some OF his business transac-
tons not L,ing quito rs square as they
might be. The consequence Is that he
Is not spoken OF very we'll among BUSH
ness men and has few friends"
"Then hope that you will en-
deavor to see him as soon as no arrives,
for Percy was very anxious that you
should. Ho seemed to have some idea
that you will know the man." said Mrs.
Dclaro.
"You may depend upon 1t I shall do
my best to SEQ him when he gets here,
for am as much interested rs anybody
in knowing who he really Is"
For tho next wcck or two there were
no new developments either In regard
to Percy Lowell or tho Bregys' fortune.
Eugene and his mother, acting on the
advice OF Mr.. Blodger, made rapid
preparations to leave for France, and
had oven taken passage on the la Cas-
coigne" for tho early part OF May.
MIR. Wilcox was suffering intense
anxiety on account Of not hearing from
Percy, and longed for tho time to come
when he would receive some informa-
ton by mail from the American Consul.
to whom he had autographed asking him
to make inquiries In fact SO great
was tho old fellows anxiety that he
began to show signs Of 1t in his feat
ures. Tho old gentleman was very 70.
bust, and could have combatted success
fully any severe physical trial, but the
stress Of worry on his mind owing to the
halo Of uncertainty which surrounded
the fate Of his chosen friend and COM
panion wcro too much for him. He
grew restless, sometimes evon irritable,
and finally was told by his medical
adviser that he must cease to trouble
himself SO much or he would be very
sick man. Still nothing could divert
his thoughts, and on the day that Mr..
limerick landed in New York from the
Rio steamer, Mr.. Wilcox was compelled
TO take to his he'd. The strain on his
mind had been too much and he had 10
succumb. Mra Delaro and Armida had
done their utmost to cheer him, and had
endeayored TO force him TO eat and
drink, and take amusement to divert
his thoughts, but their efforts were OF
no avail.
In Observation-Disclosures bedroom In
the house near Gramercy Park was
gathered Q small company, wistfully
gazing upon . bed whereon lay the
quiet form OF IN old man. g The little
group consisted OF Mira Delaro and her
daughter, Mr.. Blodger and physician,
and they were sadly watching their
good friend, Mr.. Wilcox, tie tide OF
whose life was fast ebbing away.
Joel Wilcox was IN old man who had
long since passed the three-score-and-
ten milestone on LIES highway. and
slight cold, added to intense anxiety,
on account Of the man whom he had
grown 10 lovo as son. had produced
fever which proved too much for his
vitality. The old follow had outlived
his day and generation, though. indeed,
no had in his younger days cut sdrift
from all his relations and early 1850
Citations. In the latter days Of his
prosperity no had not mado many
friends Though he could count 40
quaintances by the hundreds) a. his 70
served and simple nature rendered him
fearful lest men should only like him
for his wealth and the influence which
wealth brought with It For Mario
Delaro he had conceived hearty lik'
Ing, and how well be bad proved the
Renuineness Of that friendship these
uares have told. Besides the Delaro
family. Percy Lowell was the only par
son who had found the way to Joel
Wilcox's heart though the old-tims
friendship with Blodger had been cor
daily renewed Of lste
Although so few were the personal
friends Of the kind-hssrted old million
alre, very many were those among the
poor and needy, the triod and tbs
lsmpted-thcse who fought on the
losing side IN the battle q ltts-who
had known what Il was - have the
friendly help. material and moral. Of
Joel Wilcox. Truly Of this old man Il