The new era., 1911-07-06
Canvassing for Shaw & Go.
BY BRYANT c. ROGERS
(cep,risht. Isll. ;, A,.oci.t.d Li,.r.r, prs..)


well. you can get along with you
Your wife didn't tell you there was nc
hurry, and my husband did. In fact
the last one said I'd better buy hogs
with the money"
week passed and neither the
widow nor the widower had taken ar
order. Then the widow came driving
over to Grafton and to the deacon's
place of business. When she had gol
seated she said:
"Mr. Carter, I've been thinking
over your case. and think it's ar
awful shame the way you have
neglected your wifes grave. You
couldn't have loved her"
And did you love them two hus
bands Of yours!" he retorted.
MY case Is different. II you'd only
give me an order to show around
could get a start and make some
money"
But why don't you give me an
order?"
Deacon. your wife is lying ur
there. probably Eieving at your
neglect. and you are here buying but
ter and eggs. What do you think the
people around you are saying?"
How is it over in Medina. In your
case?"
The widow said she didn't want to
say right out that the deacon choked
/, his wife to death to get rid of her
but she was a woman who had sus
picions. and when those suspicious
were aroused 1t took great deal to
lull them. That was her fling as she
left for home, and the deacon wasn't
| quick enough to answer that he had
heard Of wives using slow poison.
In the course of another week he
drove over to Medina again. He in
| terviewed two or three persons on
the tombstone business. and then
brought up at the Widow Lees
| Il was sort of expecting you" she
said in greeting 1--we talked with
several people about you. and they
say you are a man to give a widow
fair chance. Have you come over
10 give me an ofder?"
Not exactly. just wanted to
drive past the graveyard"
4
both of mine were there yet! Well.
hope you feel better"
Widow. it don't seem to me that
you appreciated them two husbands"
Don't it? Then let me tell you
that in both cases there was a cir.
Gus in town within a month after
their death and never went. How
about an order for your dead Wife,"
Driving slowly home that day the
deacon mused to himself:
Pretty bright widow! House and
lot! House as neat as a pin! Seems
like good worker! l hadn't thought
Of marrying again, but"
And when he had departed from
her house the widow unused to her
| self:
We'll, maybe he thought heap OF
his wife. after all. Seems to be a
good man. He's had one and I've
had two. but man needs wife and
woman needs husband. II We
| were both out of the tombstone bust
| ness"
Ten days passed. and again the
deacon drove up to the widows gate
He had letter from Chicago saying
| that he was no hustler, and that his
book samples should be turned over
to another canvasser.
I've got letter reading just the
same" said the widow when he
handed her his. Deacon, If you d
| only given me an order" ,6
= "Or II you'd given me one"
We'll, I'm ashamed that ] said
had suspicious of you" r
That's all right II ever hinted
that your husbands died on purpose
to get long rest beg pardon"
And as I'm going to have a boiled
dinner today I'll invite you to stay"
| with pleasure. widow"
The deacon drove home by moon
light that night. and on the way he
kept saying to himself and smiling:
She'll be number two and I'll be
number three. but what Providence
brings about nobody should kick over
Um! l wouldn't have believed that
any human being could cook such 6
boiled dinner as that"