The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-06-13

mere. Of sharks. Half a score OF
them, of different varieties, are e.
be seen from day to day. lying IA
wait about the court house. aud the
worst OF tho varieties ls the tax
shark"
Beside the tax shark" the avar-
ice and tho cunning Of tho mere
warrant shaver palea into insig
nificancn. Tor tho warrant shaver
and the FEE slleer" have at least
the excuse OF offering convenz
irnre 20 those who have urgent
need Go convert their scrip into
eash-even though the pound Of
flesh extracted for the favor be
gross overweight
The tax SHARK" has no excuse
at all Tor existence-and he does
not even offer ono 60 himself for
existing The tax shark merely
lays ahamclessly aud unhlushlngly
low. waiting Tor the moment when
some honest man shall relax hts
Nigilant guard over his home. HIS
property or his savings, Then the
tax shark" pouueea-a swallows
the honest mans all at n gulp.
A short time ago a TAX shark"
bounced.
When sharks are fun grown they
have several rows Of sharp. ser
rated, cruel teeth. and the partleu.
lar shark that pouncod was a pio-
naer In King county's shark circles.
Hts name Is l. A. Gassaway
lie had for a long time had his
eye upon a toathsoms BIT A tiny
cloud rested upon the home OF two
old people up Ia lssaquah. and
they didn't know a. II they did
not find Il out until 4 had rested
there for five years. then there
would be no law 10 prevent. and
tho shark could pnuuee.
On May rs the i've years expired
and the shark pouneed.
L A. Gassaway brought forth
SIS from his pocket and with L.
purchased at tar sale the little
home that represented the savings
Of years. the only shelter an aged
couple had. and which they had
Z provided BY years of toll for their
helpless old age.
Two years ago Thomas J. WILING
ham and his wife. having spent The
best years OF their lives az homes
toll. having reared their family and
haviaE seen their sons and dauEh
tera 80 60 domicllae 81 their own
looked about for a pleasant home
They found a place that SUITED
them n fsanluah. and they bought
\ Il. paying s4ss for a.. and spending
/ the remainder Of their savings tr
/ making improvements. setting out
fruit trees. and h-autifying the acre
axe. The man from whom they
Z bought e assured them Of a clsai
titie lie did not tell them that
thrps years before a delinquency in
taxes amounting 20 about 81 had
been charged up against Il. and thar
this vas steadily growing They
did not hear 81 n until two month";
ago when by accident a rumor OF
the cloud came 70 their ears They
wrote To Treasurer Uormiay. and
asked II 4 we're 50. The Treasures
answered. saying that there was .
delinquent tax judgment. which
with costa amounted to SIS. and
that the amount must DO paid be-
fore May a. or their home would BE-
sold AZ auction La great alarm tn
old folks rushed 70 the postofiiee
secured a money order aud mailed
Il. but there waa q delay IN the
mall The letter arrived one day
{ after The sale
i Tho eye % tho ''tax shark haf
been upon the home Of the ole
/ couple. and he bought Il AZ tbs tat
sale for ffs. procuring a decd whiet
holds gnod IN law. unless some r..
regularity can be proven.
One day early this week Mr and
Mrs Filiingham came into town
They appeared worried and dis.
trsssed az the treaaurer'a Office and
J asked II IL we're true that their home
, had been sold The aged wifi
leaned upon the stiffened arm Of be-
uhits-hairsd husband and tear
we're IN the eyes 81 both a. they