The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1901-12-06
Copyright; 1901, b,
THINGS had happened in the town
of Observation-Disclosures, runa-


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 s. o'clock
one 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 IL 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, 900; 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
100000 life insurance. Public opinion
changed at once. She received so many
calls of sympathy that the front gate
dropped from its 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 adj
mirers included a widower, a bachelor,
n divorced lawyer and three young
men, and their feet kept ner front steps
warm. 1t looked as if she would have
to select one of the six to protect her
from the other five, but she was in no
hurry.
One by n 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 eve thing.
NHtu TWO lueH lONe the same WOD1-
an, she is kept plentifully supplied
with bouquets, books, music and all
else that a lover may send, and never
a day passes that at least one does not
long to die for her. Neither man can
score an advantage, and the case is
finally decided on it's merits. The bach
elor, Mr.. Dayton, argued it out that
this one would be, but the lawyer
L 1t1ntf IIA hannn 90 rt,,I,, A. x,,.lN--t
character with a view to making a
grand coup. She was not ambitious;
she was not vain; she couldn't be taken
in by fiattery; she had just one weak
point, as the lawyer lover decided
she was romantic and inclined to hero
worship and he would build up his
case on that.
1t isn't an easy thing to be a hero to
order. When Mr.. Braxton had decided
to take that line, the trouble was to
find an occasion. There were no mad
dogs running about the streets of Ross
vile, no raging conflagrat,ons, nobody
tumbling into the river to be pulled
out, no anything. He walked around
for a week or two looking for a hero
opening, but as none came he sat down
to do some hard judicial thinking. His
tory does not state whether he got
through at midnight or was still work
ing when the sun of next morning
shone on his face, but he had got his
plan just the same.
That forenoon at 10 o'clock he pass
ed the Mason house on his way TO the
office. The widow, who was working
among her pinks and hollyhocks, gave
him cordial salutation, He stopped to
assure her of his undying affection and
clutching the fence. cried out in pain