The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-01-30
Something
T.. Wrong
By F. A. mitchell

The country's going to the Semn,
ton bowwows!!"
whats the matter now. old NAM
"Why. this income tax is an out
rage. They allow u married mar s
81, 900 exception and a single man only
$1,000. We poor bachelors are DOOM
ed to live alone. We have no honse, NC
wife. no children. Our expenses are
necessarily higher than those of L
married man,nwho doesn't have TO be
long to Il club and spend the money
that is an essential Of the bachelor
state. Notwithstanding all this, !,
who have an income Of $4,000, have
to pay a tax on $1,000, while the mar
ried man with the same amount goes
scot free. It's an outrage"
'lf you prefer the married mans
place. why don't you take a wife,"
by love. 1 believe Ill do 1t! Just
to get ahead of the government"
This Dialogue took place between
Dick Ryerson and Arnold Thurston.
bachelors. in the Calumet club Que
morning after the first publication OF
the terms Of the income tax. The
complainant, Ryerson. though his in
come was all expended Oh himself,
had 4 hard time making ends meet,
and any reduction Of the amount
whatever was liable to upset his
financial calculations.
'In order to beat EN-" Thurstsn re
piled to the last remark. you'll have
to marry n girl without more thar
$1,000 Il year. Anything over that viii:
be combined with your OWE income
and must pay a tax"
II don't suppose the only girl in Che
world I want has a cent Of income
l can write her a note asking her
about it before l propose"
"That would be a brilliant scheme
She would probably write back that II
you wanted her on a money considera-
ton you could look elsewhere for 4
WIFE"
II won't put it that way. Iii tea
her that l don't wish my wife to have
any income at all. that she is to rely
on me for everything. and IL she has
no money it's a proposal; 1t she has, t.
isn't. See?'
"Oh, yes; l see" doubtfully.
well, what do you seer
"Fireworks."
When an idea gets into the head Of
q confirmed bachelor, especially as t.
matrimony, no n can tell just what
he will do. Mr.. Ryerson did just what
he had said he would do and without
the expected fireworks. Miss Engle-
heart. to whom he made the singular
conditional proposition. was rather
pleased with 1t. She wrote the pro
poser that since she came within his
neutrality-suspicious. which she con-
sidered worthy of a manly maa-she
accepted his proposition.
The day after he received the ae-
ceptance he met his friend Thurston
again at the club.
I'm going to beat the government
said Ryerson.
"How?' asked Thurston. somewhat
astonished.
"Pm going to marry a girl who hae
nothing and pay no tax"
"Come of! You're guying me-" y
Fact" And he gave Thurst0n Miss
E~ngleheart's letter to read. The latte.
scratched his head.
"Dick." he said presently. there's
something wrong somewhere In this
case"
"Why do you think so?"
well. your proposition is so unhearA
of that ! can't conceive of any woman
taking it Seriously
Ryerson paled. r.
I'm afraid you're up a tree"
what can I do?"
"Crawish." +
II won't do that. Fact Is I DON'T
want to do that. I'm in 1t. and In.
going to stay In It."
well. it may come out all right.
There: one thing ] can say to yea 10
encourage you. 1t has seemed to me
that any girl receiving such q pcopo-
sition-that Is. your making any con
ditions whatever-would send It tack
with a stick Of dynamite attached.
But I've observed this about womeE
They generally do just the opposite
from what n expects them to do"
This is encouraging. isn't it,"
Its all the comfort ! can give YOU
Ryerson stayed on 1t. as he said he.
would. and after a brief engagement
he was married. lie remained away
from his club during the honeymooa.
but as soon as It had passed he made
his appearance there. The first man
he met was Thurston.
We'll. old chappie." said the LATTER.
so you've beaten the government"
Ryerson's face fell. DO you re.
member what you said about there be-
ing something wrong?:"
"Yes. but ! hope ! was wrong"
And that you said a woman would
always do what you expected her NOT
to do?"
why. yes: 1 remember that too. L
hope nothing has occurred to make
you regret
"Oh. no; nothing like that, but {