The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1912-03-21
MIR. Croaker
By MARTHA v. MONROE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911

MRS. EmmOnS.
"Why not:"
Hes we'll named. He's a croaker.
true enough. Besides. he's grumbler.
always snarling. The incest man il
this town is Ernest Schoefield. lie al
ways has a pleasant word for every
one. is always smiling. and
Il have no use for him."
"Why not?"
II prefer Croaker. Somehow I never
feel sure Of Schoefeld's nice sayings.
When Croaker growls at me l know
what I'm getting"
Il reckon that's because you're kind
o. queer yourself.
Mrs. Croaker had trouble at times
with her husband. When she asked
him for s. to buy some needed article
he would say. with grrmbling tone:
you can't get anything but the cheap
est for So. and there is no economy in
cheap things. II you're going to get
1t at all. get the best" Then he would
hand her double the amount she
asked
a little daughter. Alice. the only
child OF the Croakers. would occasion
ally get a pleasant word from her
father. but she was the only one who
ever succeeded in doing So Andy
Schoefeld. Il son Of the Schoefield men
toned by Mrs. Busby. was a school.
mate Of Alice's. and the children were
growing up to be lovers. Andy's father
didn't like the match and warned his
boy against it. As for Croaker. he
simply croaEed as to the horrible
future in store for the couple. since
neither Of them would have anything
on which to begin life
why, Ernest Schoefeid is rich"
protested Mrs. Croaker.
"How do you know?' snarled her
husband.
"Why. everybody says he is. and he's
just bought q $4,000 automobile
"Oh. he has. has he? Has he paid
for it,"
When Andy Schoefeld became of
age and Alice was nineteen it was evi.
dent that their hearts were set upon
each other 1t was about this time that
Mrs. Rusby and Mrs. Emmons met one
morning at the greengrocer's
"Isn't it awful about Mr.. Schoefield?''
said Mrs. Busby.
whats awful?"
"Why. haven't you heard' He's
failed and stuck all his intimate
friends. And such a nice man tool
"Well. Mrs. Busby. you know l don't
fancy these people that are 50 nice to
everybody. Their niceness is usually
only skin Deep
'They say he was living beyond his
means" tf---
"Just so. That kind O. persons usual
~ do. It's their disposition to lock nm
the best SIDE O. everything. so they
don't see the dart side. If they'd keep
an eye on the dark side they'd come
out better in the end. The bright side
don't need watchin'.''
'And just think how hard It "a OH
the young lovers. Andy Schcefeld and
Alice Croaker. Everybody said what
nice th!cg her being engaged to Andy
was. Mr.. Schoefield gave out only a
day or two before he skipped that he
was goin' to give the couple u house."
Reckon that was to keep up conf.
dence."
well. I'm sorry for Alice. I should
think she'd want to get married IL only
to get away from that crusty old
father of hers
"Oh. don't think Mr.. Crackers so
bad! kind O like to have him srari
ut me once in awhile. know he amt
fooliD' me, and that's more than
know of these people who are always
givin' me soft solder Good mornin'.
Mrs. Busbyv'
Mrs Busby went away muttering
The reason she likes old Croaker ia
she's one O the same kind herself"
The Schoefeld failure threw the
Schoeffeld and the Croaker families
both into a painful condition. First
there was the disgrace attached to
Andy's father running away to get
nd OF criminal proceedings against
him: second. Andy hadn't cent laid
Aps tulIOs u ucIltlON EluT.lSSe uDU0r
the circumstances to Mr.. Croker was
considered by Mrs. Crcaker and Alice
20 be equivalent to shaking red rag
before mad bull.
However. Andy had position pay
ng him $50 week. and on this the
:wo resolved to be married. Mrs.
Croaker broke the news to her hus-
,and. expecting some violent expires.
'iors. and she got them.
They're going to be married on $50
week, nre they? That's about
enough to pay house rent"
"They can board at first, and IL you
IAN spare. say. 500 for clothes for
Alice she won't need to spend any
hing in that way for a year or two"
"a hundred dollars! That's all rot"
swell, fifty then"
Mr.. Croaker went off to bis den.
where he kept his desk. and. coming
back. handed his wife check for
$1,000.
why. pa. what does this mean?"
'Trousseau." grunted the old man
I'D 49,,