The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-02-05

The woman who had called to
see Mason was in deep trouble.
Her little daughter had been kill
| ed by trolley car, and in her ig-
norance she had compromised the
case with the company's claim
agent for $500.
with poor Oracle lying dead in
the next room and no money in
the house for the funeral" she
walled, at seemed an awful lot,
and took 1t and signed the papers.
didn't thing they'd cheat poor
widow, when they'd killed her girl
Ia good girl, too, who gave what
little she earned to help with the
rent and such things"
Cheat" exclaimed Mason
wrathfully; "a claim adjuster will
cheat anyone. That's his business.
Why, the law gives you $4,000"
Mason explained to her that she
had forfeited all legal claim when
she signed the release that the
claim adjuster presented to her
with the 800, but he promised to
see WHAT he COulQ 40.
Mason found Darnell on the
point of leaving, and Darnell was
in no very enviable frame of mind,
although later some incidents of
the conversation with Miss Had
ley were recalled that seemed to
be capable of a favorable interpre-
tation. Just at that moment, how
ever his mind was on Stanley
Fisher, and he was not happy. Ma
son decided that there had been a
quarrel. But, to his surprise, he
found Miss Hadley in the dining
room, smilingly happy.
''Darnell seemed to be put out
about something" he suggested.
81 hope" said Miss Hadley, so.
licitously, that you haven't mad
vertently said anything to offend
him."
Mason looked at her blankly, and
then shook his head solemnly. He
had decided long ago that women
were enigmas, but he never had
found one as enigmatical as this
Miss Hadley wished to try her
hand at washing the dishes, but
Mason would not hear of it.
"Ill compromise" announced
Miss Hadley. "l'll let the dishes
alone if you'll agree to make your
wife turn everything over to me
without protest, when I come
again."
'I'll do it, said Mason, and Mrs
Mason appearing at that moment
the compact was sealed. Miss Had
ley, however, insisted upon putting
Harry to bed before she left.
i Mason said nothing to his wife
about the call from the poor WON
an, but the next day he called al
the Offices of the street railway
company and stated the case to the
claim adjuster. The claim adjustel
informed him that he had settled
the matter on strict business prin
ciples for the smallest amount pos
} sible, and that any further action
would have to be taken by the
; legal department.
The attorney gave him close at
tention, but seemed to consider il
a very ordinary affair
Personally. l am sorry for her,
he said, "but officially I can only
say that she has no further claim
on the road. 1t is not matter OF
sentiment, but of business"
"You took advantage of both heI
necessities and her ignorance!" ex
claimed Mason, angrily. "You
knew her rights and she didn't. You
defrauded her deliberately, even
though it was done under the cloak
Of the law"
"Be careful, Mr.. Mason" eau.
toned the lawyer.
81 mean what l say!" Mason
asserted, warmly. at was a
fraud-not legal, perhaps, but
moral certainly, and most despic-
able"
"You make me hesitate to say
what l intended" said the law
yer, quietly.
There was that in his tone that
Gained Mason, and he waited to
hear the proposition.
Legally" explained the law
yer. "she has no claim against the
road, for she has formally re-
leased us from further liability.
That is business. and as a bust
ness affair the incident is closed.
But for our friends we can some
times stretch point"
Mason looked puzzled.
This woman" he said, sis
hardly of SUFFICIENT Importance to
be considered either a friend or
an enemy of the road"
True" said the lawyer, 'but
how about you?"
| he In nj