The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-22

ess. Possibly few names were over
looked at the recent trial, but Ed Nc
Keever produced just a few to show
that Johns aged friendship was gen
uine and far reaching.
Two years ago-possibly little
longer-Cooper became greatly inter
ested in several extensive Texas deals.
1t was through these deals that he met
the countess-of genuine American,
Irish German descent-but with a sure
enough title that is recorded in Mad
rid. The countess was Miss Florence
King. Her father had died and left
her a fortune. Florence was using her
share of 1t to decided advantage. When
girl she received a musical training
that put her name and picture on the
three sheet posters when she decided
to try season behind the footlights.
But the applause of the gallery gods
and goddesses was mockery to Florence
and she decided on higher things. She
went to Europe-and Will, in Italy
she met real bona fide count of Span
ish vintage. Love was sweet in Italy
and Florence was young-Oh, so
young. For ten months she tried be-
ing Mrs. Countess Sornebody-John
doesn't know just who-and then she
bought a ticket for America. But be-
fore she embarked. Florence remem-
and visible assets, which were forever
added to the King bank account. A
clever girl was the countess. She
came 20 Topeka, met John, visited the
Cooper mansion on Jackson street.
Here she banged the Cooper piano
with heavenly grace and John suffered
from palpitation of the heart.
But that is ahead of the story. Flor
ence had an improving ambition. She
wanted to do something-something
that would engrave her name in the
hall of fame and make the name of
King live forever. She could just die
for suffering humanity. She was oh
SO loving and dear and good. Every
time she smiled John was sure Lady
Bountiful was before him. Almost be-
fore he knew it, John was doing char
ity, too. At night John dreamed of
the cruel and inhuman treatment of
the unfortunate. He conferred with
Florence. 1t was agreed that the
Cooper-King fortunes should be con-
solidated in the name of love and
charity. They would build a great
sanitarium in Bay City, Texas, for the
uplift of the down trodden. They
would raise mankind. If the scheme
paid dividends, so much the better.
DR.. NJ. A Edison, of the Life Saving
Station, was to be the superintendent
of the new sanitarium.
Then one day Florence admitted
that S1e Dko0 john ever So IuuCH 81
Cooper wrote a letter to Lawyer Mar
tin at Overlook and he drew an ante
nuptial agreement for the countess
that was in substance the same as the
one signed by Cora Haley. But things
had happened in this short time.
Florence realized that other women
were on Johns mind-at least she
thought they were-and she did not
urge the marital vow. In fact before
the agreement was signed, she trans
ferred her bank account, cancelled her
Texas plans and went east. She never
returned.
Col. Booge as Matchmaker.
Then Col. H. D. Booge appeared.
The colonel had faithfully piloted the
Home Comfort, an institution that
blended hearts and assured future
prosperity and happiness for so many
years. But the Home Comfort was not
gaining proper recognition. Booge
knew tEis He realized the needs of
an influential patron and solicited the
Cooper business. Cooper fell For
six weeks Booge kept the maid at the
Cooper home busy announcing the ar
rival of manageable ladies. From the
Booge affinity book, the proprietor of
the matrimonial agency produced a
thousand names. From the list he Sc
lected the most fitting candidates for
the Don Juans hand. In all, he testi-
lovable ladies" were led to S24 Jack
son street for John Cooper's inspec-
ton.
According to the story told by Coop
er, Mrs Mott, sister of Mrs. Cooper
No. 8, was led to the prospective altar
and offered for approval or rejection.
Cooper said he looked her over and
with an experienced eye decided she
was not just what the plans and speci-
fications called for. Exit Mrs. Mott.
But Mrs. Mott had a different story.
There was anger in her tones, as she
told the lawyers that she went to the
home expecting employment as do
mestic and not as a prospective bride.
Mrs. Mott has had her name in the
lnewlyweds column three times and de-
poses to say that she wanted no such
lscape-goat as John Cooper for a
fourth husband.
Miss Haley Is Chosen.
| This didn't discourage Booge in the
least. The next day Booge took more
candidates Cooper was peevish and
emphatically declared he would have
none of them. That night Booge made
careful selections from his lists of
available matrimonial prospects and
tried again. Same results. Cooper was
angry and Booge was becoming a
| trife nervous.
But the next day he inspected the
Haley photograph album There was
picture of Cora Halev-young, at
tractive and hard working. She had
worked in hotels all over the country
and broke less dishes than any of her
sister mattresses.
Breathlessly Mother Haley and
Booge tramped to the Cooper mansion
Cora's picture was displayed. Cooper
was delighted. With paint and frills
and furbelows Cora's amiable DISPOSE
ton, modest desires and strict atten-
L finr 70 business told nd
while Cooper sat with staring eyes
Then he advanced SO for Cora's car
fare to Topeka for, a trial showing
Cora came. She was everything, APP
parently, that advance advertising
called for and more. Cooper showed
his qualification hx rarndI1cirer one n1