The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1901-12-13
had happened in the town
of Observation-Disclosures, runa-

ways, Fourths of July, elections
and clothesline robberies-but
nothing had ever happened to equal the
failure of Thomas Mason, doing bust
ness for twenty years, owing his New
York creditors $4,000.
His failure was known at 8 o'clock
n morning, and by 8 it was gener-
ally understood that his wife's %extrava-
gance had precipitated the crisis. An
hour later everybody could remember
just how many new hats, dresses and
cloaks she had had during the last
year, to say nothing of hosiery, gloves
and shoes. At II o'clock Mr.. Mason
hung himself in his woodshed, and at
high noon the body was discovered and
public gossip had it that the widow
had been left without a dollar and
would have to take in washing. Had a
vote been taken the ballot would have
stood: Sorry for her, 000; glad ont,
5000. ..;.
Mrs. Mason had always been high
headed and exclusive, nd so her
come down" was exulted over-not
for long, however. The funeral had
scarcely been held when it became
known that the husband had left her
$4,000 life insurance. Public opinion
changed at once. She received so many
calls of sympathy hat the front gate
dropped from it's hinges, and had any
one dared to hint that she was high
headed or ~.extravagant there would
have been a row.
After a year of mourning half a'dozen
different men were ready to give the
widow a new name and to handle her
cash. she had taken no vow against a
second marriage, and she looked more
lovable than ever. The list of her ad-
mirers included a widower, "a bachelor,
u divorced lawyer and three young
men, and their feet kept ner front steps
warm. 1t looked as if she would have
to select n of the six to protect her
from the other five, but she was in no
hurry.
One by one they dropped out until
only the lawyer and the bachelor were
left. People said it was about an even
thing between them. and the lawyer
whose name was BraXton, must have
argued the same way. He wouldn't
have been a lawyer if he had been sat
isfied with an even thing.
When two men love the same WON,
an, she is kept plentifully supplied
with bouquets, books, music and al
else that a lover may send, and never
a day passes that at least one does no
long to die for her. Neither man ear
score an advantage, and the case i!
finally decided on it's merits. The bach
elor, Mr.. Dayton, argued it out tina
this one would be, but the lawyer
didn't. He began to study the widows
character with a view to making
grand coup. She was not ambitious
she was not vain; she couldn't be takel
in by flattery; she had just one veal
point, as the lawyer lover decided
she was romantic and inclined to herr
worship and he would build up hi
case IN that.
1t isn't an easy thing to be a hero T.
order. When Mr.. Braxton had decide,
to take that line, the trouble was t
find an occasion. There were no ma
dogs running about the streets of Ross
vile, no raging CONGREGATIONS, nobod
tumbling into the river to be pulle
out, no anything. He walked aroun
for a week or two looking for a her
opening, but as hone came he sat dow
, to do some hard judicial thinking. His
, tory does not state whether he &c
through at midnight or was still work
ing when the sun Of next mornin
shone on his face, but he had got hi
plan just the same.
That forenoon at 10 o'clock he pass
t ed the Mason house on his way to tn
5 office. The widow, who was workin
among her pinks and hollyhocks, CAV
> him cordial salutation. He stopped I
assure her of his undying affection an
Y clutching the fence. cried out in pal