The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-08-03

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 an
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 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 yoursl" 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 mo an
order2"
Deacon. your wife Is lying up
there. probably grieving at your
neglect, and you are here buying but
ter and eggs! What do you think the
people around you are saying?"
How Is II over in Medina, in your
case7"
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 woman who had sus-
picions. and when those suspicious
were aroused II took great deal to
luli 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. I've talked with
several people about you, and they
say you are man to give n widow
a fair chance. Have you come over
to give me an order7"
Not exactly. Just wanted to
drive past the graveyard"
II see. Wanted to be sure that
both of mine were there yet! Well.
hopS you itti octttts
widow. II don't seem to mo that
you appreciated them two husbands"
Don't Il? Then let me tell you
that In both cases there was a cir
Gus In town within 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 pinl Seems
like good workerl hadn't thought
OF marrying again. but"
And when he had departed from
her house the widow mused to her
self:
WELL maybe he thought a heap of
his wife, after all. Seems to be a
good man. He's had one and I've
had two. but a man needs wife and
q woman needs a husband. II we
were both out of the tombstone busi-
ness"
Ten days passed. and again the
deacon drove up to the widows gate.
He had a letter from Chicago saying
that he was no hustler. and that his
book samples should be turned over
to another canvasser.
I've got a letter reading Just the
same" said the widow when he
handed her his. Deacon. II you'd
only given me an order"
"or II you'd given me one"
We'll, I'm ashamed that | said
had suspicious OF you"
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.
I'm! wouldn't have believed that
any human being could cook such q
boiled dinner as that"