Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-07-13
THE CASE OF MIR. MASOK.

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offensive man. He also seemed good
business man to those who had oppor-
unities of judging Certainly he was
nethodical, and that quality is gener-
lily supposed to go far toward making
good business man.
He had come to Burkville from
somewhere. The fact that he talked
little or not at all about his own pre-
vious history may have somewhat pre-
udiced him in the estimation of our
citizens, for Burkville people, there is
40 denying, are inquisitive-lik to
know all about newcomers.
In business way, however, he was
Ill that could be desired. He had a
good, round sum to his credit in the
First National bank. He brought ex-
,ellent introductions from several di-
:ectors of high standing corporations
IN two different cities. In purely
business sense Everett X. Mason was
lnimpeachable. 1t was socially, and
only socially, that his personality was
little overcast by his never alludlng
10 any other place where he may have
resided before he came to hang out in
The thriving and growing town of
Burkville the sign, Everett K Mason,
Real Estate"
AS anyone may remark, this was
very notable exception to the rule
that silence is golden. Mr.. Mason, it
seemed, could smile on the just and
aniust, the high and the low alike,
though nobody ever saw him hilarious.
But it seemed that he had made it to
himself AN infexible rule to talk only
Of indifferent and impersonal matters
when he was not talking business.
Nevertheless, his fate came to him
1t last, for all his not talking.
It was deal in Burkville real es-
;ate that brought him into friendly re-
ations with Deacon Surge, the father
,f Lydia Surge.
"Weil, now," said the deacon, COM
ing home in good humor one after
aoon, ''about this Mason What's
The matter with Mason? That's what
want to know"
"He's all right" young Bobby
yelled, thinking of last election.
keep still, Bobby" said Mrs.
Surge. "What do you mean, pa?
Who said anything against this Mr..
Mason? Tn sure he comes to church
regularly, and you ought to know if he
puts anything in the plate. What
about him?"
"Well, just this about him-he
strikes me as good, square, up-and-
down business man, and l think this
community ought to be glad to have
him."
True, to be sure, some women
:hurch members, too-tried to make
is believe that Mrs. Surge was trying
to get a substantial, reliable son-in
law when she became hospitable to
this Mr.. Masoa. But, then, there is
90 end to the small malice of some
women who are church members.
1t can hardly be said that Mr.. Mason
showed any great enthusiasm in mis-
way Of accepting the Surge invita-
;ion. He came with what you may
call polite aacrity-iust pleased to
show his consideration for the Surge
family. When he came he smiled on
everybody and on the supper, which
was good supper. Lydia did not
take any marked dislike to him. He
made himself agreeable to Mrs. Surge.
He talked cheerily with the deacon
about the outlook for Burkville real
estate. AS for mel happened to be
one of the party-it struck me thet
poor Mason was not nearly so de-
lighted with the entertainment as his
set smile would have indicated, and ]
know that he once stole sly look al
the clock when it was not yet quite
half an hour to the right going home
time.
But before Mr.. Mason could prop.
erly bring this visit to close some
thing happened.
1t all came of Bobby's inordinate
fondness for dried prunes. Bobby
would run back for the second time
since leaving the supper table to the
dining room to get more prunes. HI
Vat on the floor in corner, between
the grand piano and tha fender, ant
worked his jaws and flicked prunt
stones into the CRATE, unobserved by
his parents, until suddenly he paused,
looked alarmed aud gave a hideous,
strangled cough.
''He's choked," Mrs. Surge CRIED
aloud. "It's those pruaes, I know
it!'
Lydia got mp from the piano seat
caught her younger brother by th,
arms, ierked him to his feet aud begar
humping his back.
eff you will allow me-" said Mr.
Mason in exactly the same even, un
excited tones in VIII ch he had jus
been unfolding plan for the expan
sion of Burkville in one particular di
rection, II think l see what is wrong.
Then he quietly but firmly, tool
Bobby from Lydia's violent hands, Sc
him in straight-backed chair ant
seized Japanese or Chinese whale
bone back-scratcher which helped +
ornament one end of the mantelpiece
"Juat let ma bold vonrhaad hsck a