The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-21
w. G. Barrett Makes a Hit in
That Role
A WOMAN GAVE HIM MONEY
She Thought He Was All Right, but
Was Deceived
He Left Her and Went East-She Tried to Have
Him Arrested, but Was Unsuccesss
ful-The Ending

mere IS CLASS OF men, OF whom J0hn
| Churchill, the notorious duke OF MARI
borough, is probably the most striking
| example. who make it matter or BUSH
ness to inveigle themselves into the
affections of women and take MOI ey from
| these confding creatures and elbow" it
in. sometimes on their own pleasure
and more frequently with other women.
Such person is William c. Barrett.
Mr.. Barrett was. well known here at one
time, and there are probably yet many
| who will remem Der him. either for his
actions as a good fellow or else as u
'grafter."
He was travelling man and is said to
have been very fair in his line. He
succeeded in getting his wares before the
public. But selling goods was not his
strong point. however, and it is to the
fair sex that one must turn to really learn
what a thoroughly charming man he was.
Indeed. the fair sex, or many of them,
are said to have been rendered helpless
by his wonderful powers of fascination
and surrendered far sooner than did the
easiest Kind of marker who could
buy goods on ninety days time and after
| that pay for them when ne wanted to.
Barrett stayed around here for several
months last summer. and of course every
body got to know him on the line. He
soon became one" of the gang" ana his
fine manners and blase air of the man of
the world raised him to the pinnacle Of
deep and lasting regard. And then, too,
his qualities as masher we're something
marvellous. They have been hinted at
I've hut Ir,, Sc
adequate to do them justice. In fact,
he was terror with the girls and became
within week the envy of all the other
fellows in town.
He bestowed his smiles quite freely,
but of course this aid not mean anything.
He merely wantd to show how clever he
| real y was. Finally, though, he conde-
scended to favor one person to the ex-
clusion of all others and selected most
charming lady by the name of Mrs. Far
ner. She had been married three times
and had developed to an alarming degree
the trusting and contiding mind so char
aoteristlc of women who can boast of
changing their names three times. What
ever her Willie said went with her, and
she was satisfied if Willis was.
Willie had formerly been held in high
esteem as a smooth ''grafter" by his
friends, but events proved that they had
vastly underestimate his ability in this
line, and the way in which he worked"
the grass widow was simply appalling.
One morning he felt thirsty and asked
bis trusting love for some money. She
did not happen to have any Just then,
but nothing was too good fol her Willie,
and what he wanted he must have. Ac.
cordingly she ordered a quantity of fur
niture in fiat to be sold at once. and
the proceeds were handed over to him.
To quote a friend, Willie didn't do
thing after he got the stuff but blow it
in. +"
After Willie won his lady friend be was
never known to do any work, and all
the crowd referred to the pair as ''Willie
and his good thing AS each day rolled
oped an al1-consurning abhorrenoe for
work of any kind. Besides, he had not
time to think OF labor. tor he was kept
busy WORKING his lady friend.
There always comes day when
patience ceases to be virtue, and one
morning Mrs. Farmer awoks to realize
that her Willie was getting too careless of
his home ties and duties. The thought
that he was too exeravagant or was play
ing her false never entered the head of
the trusting. tender creature. All she
was interested in was her Willie's well
fare. They hired a house-that Is. she
paid for it-at Santa Monica and played
at love in cottage by the sad sea waves.
Willie invited his friends down to see
him, anu Luey lHVaTluDly DeID6u MIN
out, and some interesting evenings were
passed.
At last Willie got tired and said he
wanted to 60 out once more to battle
against the cold. cruel world, and all that
he required was some money,a very COM
mon complaint. He mad the job waiting
with ready arms for his coming. and the
only thing that kept him from taking it
was the large number of railroad ties IN
teIvening. With characteristic amiabil.
ity Mrs. Farmer, who had also boosted the
name of Mrs. Smith. said she would help
him out of the difficulty. How much
would be necessary? Oh. he guessed
about $3.50 Generosity is one of her
strong points. and she handed him $3.50.
which he took. without an overwhelming
amount of urging. He then told her
that he would take her east with him and
went away to settle some business. And
be never came back. " and the lady did
not gaze upon Willie's sweet face icr
many days after.
AS days passed and Willie came not il
began to dawn upon the lady that she
had been ''played for sucker" and
then she was mad. She had gone to Wis
ALA to get some things together to take
east and as distance lends enchantment,
SO does it often help develop impotent
fury and Mrs. Farmer was affected with
the latter complaint to an abnormal de
gree. She had been soorned and trapped
and her tender and youthful affections
had been monkeyed with. If It was
possible she would have vengeance on
the pocket edition OF the duke of Mari.
borough. who had taken her dough-
She communicated with an officer here
and sent Barrett's photograph and asked
that the villain be intercepted and held
until she came. Barrett got away
though. with t1e money, leaving the
widow nothing but chagrin and anger.
Time wore aiong and little was thought