Semi-weekly herald., 1912-05-13
Three Straight
Games
Copyright, 1911. by Associated Li..r.ry rr...,
By Michael }. Porter

or washing machine had appeared in
the village OF Hillsdale he might pos
sibly have made a sale. but 1t would
only have been after week and
alter he had listened to the gossip OF
the village and taken a seeming inter
est
The stranger would have learned
that Nancy Friars. the old maid, had
almost taken dose OF paris green
because she had to go home alone
iroil prayer meeting; that Mr. George
scott and wife were thinking Of sep
aratlng because she liked goldfish and
he didn't; that Tom Henderson, the
carpenter, had been disappointed In
love. and that It had made wreck OF
hlm that old Mrs Travers was using
wrinkle remover and many, many
other. things. The biggest and best
thing would have been saved till the
last, and he would have been expect
ed to exclaim that 1t was fierce.
Philetus Narmore was a feature in
Hilisdale. He was iorty-five years old
and widower; he owned the wooden
ware factory and sung bass in church
on Sunday; he was In charge of the
fireworks on the Fourth oil July, and
he had been known to give live dol
iars-t to the heather OF Africa all at
once; he had brought about the arrest
oil horse thief, and he had speculated
in Wall street and made SIS. The
stranger would have been told this
astounding news as an appetizer.
ana then the real corn beef and cab
bage would have been set before
him.
There were three widows in Hills
dale when Mr.. Narmore became
widower. 1t was tour weeks after
the death OF his wife before he
smiled in public. Two hours later the
gossips were betting two to one that
he would marry one OF the widows
within six months He didn't, how
ever. He didn't within year He
didn't at all.
1t was said that any one OF the
three widows would give her old
shoes to catch the widower This
was probably exaggerated. Had he
proposed to Mrs Dakin, Mrs. Stevens
or Mrs. Everett the proposal would
have been received with downcast
eyes and taken under advisement.
There would have been no rushing
INTO his arms. In month or SO he
would have got his answer. 1t would
have been timid yes or no. The
chances were even that he would have
been turned down.
Mr. Narmore called on each OF the
WIDOWS. Why not? The gossips said
he was courting, but they were mis-
taken He called to talk about the
weather, potato bugs. church AFFAIRS,
fly screens and things of that sort. He
always sat with his hat in his hands.
and he always rose up exactly with
the clock striking nine.
Each of the three widows received
private and confidential advice as to
how to catch" the widower Mar.
more. They should invite him to
dinner; they should simper; they
should look at him coyly and archiy:
they should sigh and talk of their
loneliness; they should boast of their
economy and how much work they
could get through with in a day. Even
old maids who had never Tad a beau
and never would have one sat down
and looked as wise as Solomon and
said:
"Ah. If you only understood how
to handle man as well as | do you'd
bring Mr.. Narmore to his knees with
In week"
Perhaps the three widows didn't
want to marry again. Perhaps, but
for the arrival of fourth widow in
the village they would not have re-
sorted to rats and puffs and powder
and told white lies about their ages.
The fourth widow was Mrs. Harper.
She was no younger or more attrac-
tive than the other three. Sne was
seemingly handicapped by trailing in
at the end OF the string.
Within week Mrs Harper had
heard all the gossip. Within fort
night she had been introduced to Mr..
Narmore. Within a month she had
sent Tor her father to pay her a visit
He was sixty-tive years old and had to
come all the way from Illinois. but he
came
The widower Narmore had a fad.
1t was known to every one in Hills
dale and yet those three widows.
each one OF whom might possibly
have answered yes to a proposal.
hadn't the acumen to take advantage
OF it. Mr.. Narmore was checker
fiend He didn't care for horse
races, dog fights pugilism or base
ball, but seat him In front OF a checker
board and he was there for all night
II necessary to beat the other player.
He vas the champion of HilIsdale
county. In fact, he claimed the cham.
pionship OF the state
Father" said the widow Harper.
when her parent arrived. aren't you
accounted one of the best checker
players In pekin?"
'In Pekin? Why, Mary, I was
champion OF all lllinoy years ago; in
Pekin! Lord love you, but I've beaten
everything in Illinois. Iowa. Michigan,
Wisconsin. Kansas. Colorado and
Texas! Five years ago issued q den
to the whole United States and no
body dared play me. Why do you
ask?"
There's a man right in this vii.
,age who thinks he's some pumpkins
at the camel"