The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1902-03-21
TUBBS WATERLOO.

J. Llewellyn Tubb was Fix feet tall,
built like a keystone. handsome as
Apollo and dressed Ikea tailor, mod
el. Among the vealy ofhis " sex he
was the glass Of fashion and the mold
Of form; among women he ranked as a
grand marshal Of dres parade. lie
was q necessity at smart soirees forhe
led the german with a 1.-THE grace and
aplomb impossible to those who are
not built and trained for that high
achievement. lie had a front that
had borne him ont of many a hole.
lie had no profession but style and
just enough brains TO dodge creditors
indefinitely and get his accounts
"mixed' with everybody who had
financial dealings with him.
But after nearly Fix years. during
which his debts grew in inverse ratio
TO his businessreputation. he woke up
one morning with a dim but insistent
realization that he was nearing the
end Of his rope. In mad effort TO in
duce the payment Of his rent Tubb's
landlord had shut of the steam and
the hot water. Iii. last valet was lott
ering in she street. lowering at
Tubb's window. lie examined his
mail-all bills; not a single pink note
nor a polite invitation. So he laved
his handsome face with cold water
and perfume and began TO think as
vigorously as a rabbit that has heard
the dog.
After breakfast he picked up his
paper, lighted a cigarette and re-
clincd. His eye fastened on a brief
dispatch from Albany. which read:
"CliTord A. Roger, the millionaire
lumber factor, formerly Of Michigan,
died here tonight. He
leaves an enormous fortune and his
young wife charming -.
young wife charming . d.
no children. . Shei. dcyoled
TO philanthropy. :"
Tubb dropped the paper, grabbed
itagain, reached fora scissors, clipped
the Albany dispatch and with unac.
sus,omed feryor and vulgarity muir.
INJURED:
"Me to Albany! Me for the
widow
In half an hour, f~aultlcssly dressed,
glovcd, groomed and d-bonnair. he
sauntered into an office in the Gas
conade building upon the door Of
which was the legend:
"Huff& Peak, Bankers"
Mr.. Peak was glad 10 see Mr.. Tubb.
but became a bit ferrety when the lat
ter unfolded his business. lie urged
his plan TO marry the Albany widow
and his need Of financial help for the
campaign; claimed old acquaintance
with the Rogers family and, with con-
scious plausibility. predicted that he
could win and marry the prize 'prob-
ably within six months, certainly
within a year"
"How much will you need?" said
Huff, ,widdling his pencil.
81 should think $4,000 would see
me through" yawncd j. Llewellyn
Tubb with assuring sang froid.
But the "bankcr' was iinicky. He
would have to "look up" the lady's
commercial rating, estimated wealth,
actual existence. lie would let Mr..
Tubb know; the sum was large, no col
lateral, etc, etc, but he would give
his answer, say in q fortnight.
Meanwhile Tubb actually got busy.
He wrote many letters 10 Albany. sent
for its newspapers and was pretty well
posted about Mrs. Rogers when Huff
summoned him to hear the answer.
1t was not u%nfavorable, Tubb feigned
ennui while the money lender read Off
the-list Of the widows big estate. but
every word was a trumpet note Of tri-
umph forestalled. Huff estimated the
estate at something like $500, 900
after the membranes had been al
lowed, mostly stocks, bonds and real
estate.
"Welltake a chance on this scheme,
Nj. Tubb," said the S~hylock, "but, as
it's an unusual risk, you'll have to