The silver messenger., 1911-08-29
CanvaSsing for Shaw & Go.


We'll. you can get along with you.
Your wife didn't tell you there was NO
hurry, and my husband did. In fact,
the last one said I'd better buy hogs
with the money"
A week passed and neither the
widow nor the widower had taken IN
order Then the widow came driving
over to Grafton and to the deacon's
place Of business When she had got
seated she said:
"Mr. Carter. I've been thinking
over your case. and l think it's an
awful shame the way you have
neglected your wife's grave. You
couldn't have loved her."
And did you love them two hus'
bands Of yours!" he retorted.
My case IL different II you'd only
give me an order to show around
could get q start and make some
money"
But why don't you give me an
order?"
Deacon, your wife II lying up
there. probably grieving at your
neglect. and you are hero buying but
~SA oAN C660s nat w yV0 SA4sAAA SAsV
people around you are sayinE?"
How IL 1t over in Medina, IN your
7 case?"
The widow said she didn't rant to
say right out that the deacon choked
his wife to death to get rid OF her.
but she was woman who had sus-
picions. and when those suspicions
I were aroused 1t took 4 great deal t6
lull them. That was her ding - 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.
q Il was sort Of expecting you." she
l said in greeting. I've talked with
8 several people about you. and they
a fair chance. Have you come over
10 give me an order?"
| Not exactly. just wanted to
drive past the graveyard"
| Il see. Wanted to be sure that
both Of mine were there yet! Well.
4 hope you feel better"
l Widow. 1t don't seem to me that
4 you appreciated them two husbands
Don't 1t? Then let me tell you
that in both cases there was . cir
/ Gus in town within 4 month after
j their death and l never went How
4 about an order for your dead wife?"
Driving slowly home that day tho
| deacon mused to himself:
4 Pretty bright widow! House and
lot! House as neat as a pin! Seems
| like a good worker! l hadn't thought
Of marrying again, but"
And when he had departed from
her house the widow mused to her
! self:
We'll. maybe he thought . heap Of
his wife. after all. Seems to be .
good man. He's had one and I've
had two. but a man needs a wife and
woman needs a husband II We
we're both out of the tombstone bust
ness"
Ten days passed, and again the
r deacon drove up to the widows gate
e He had a letter from Chicago saying
q that ne was no hustler. and that his
n book samples should be turned ovel
), to another canvasser.
s I've got a letter reading Just the
same" said the widow when he
=, handed her his Deacon, II you't
:. only given me an order"
4 "Or If you'd given me one"
q We'll. I'm ashamed that l said
O had suspicious Of you"
3 That's all right. II l ever hintet
d that your husbands died on purpose
n to get long rest beg pardon"
IS And as I'm going to have a boiled
dinner today I'll invite you to stay"
n with pleasure. widow"
I The deacon drove home BY moon
"a light that night. and on the way hi
N kept saying to himself and smiling:
h She'll be number two and Ill b
IS number three. but what Providence
IS brings about nobody should kick over
Is I'm! l wouldn't have believed tha
W any human being could cook such I
boiled dinner as that"