Ripley County democrat. (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920, 1914-04-03
s.I.ehed former wife 70 Plow.

LiDefty.-lAIe Ch0ate u no sm4A
man. Three years ago when be be-
came angry with Ais wife hs bitches
her-the mother of bis two chuhhy.
faced hoys--to pillow and drove her
in the field With q team of mulea
Whils the boys watched him be beat
her with . club.
Yet when Lafe came into the office
OF Judge John Steep at Birmingham,
the other day be looked like . hsh-
ing schooner along side battle ship.
For be had on his farm his futureI
bride. She weighs 200 pounds--ol
more. In a voice that boded ne goot
for Lafe's future II he tried to make
her plow corn. she confessed that hei
name was Miss Bessie Evans Of Kan
sas City.
The Judge looked at Lafe and re
msmbered the pitiful story told byl
his former wife Of being driven about
the field In scorching June sun,
coupled with other stories Of brutality
He remembered that tAe whole country
had been aroused, and that many coun
ty farmers had threatened to lynch the
man who stood before thsm Then
there was the reluctance for the wo-
maa 10 prosecute her husband be-
cause OF their children. and finally 90
days sentence which the man spent in
Jail. A divorce followed the jail SEN
tsncs.
1--WE want TO be married. Lafs ana
me-" Miss Evans said.
"But,-but--." began the Judge.
That's all right. know all about
I.afe and we want to get married"
but he might try to make horse
out OF you. too" the Judge protested,
Just let him try 1t. II anybodyA
hooked to . plaw. It'll be Lafe."
Late said nothing
Then, since Lafe seemed to be quits
q different man from the brutal wo'
man beater that he knew three years
ago and since Miss Evans seemed
fully capable Of carrying out her
threats, the Judge married the couPle,
0ascoRsde Having Business Revival
onade.-This little village at
the foot Of the hills where the Gas
conade river empties into the Misseu-
ri, is humming with prosperity again
altar years OF auietness. Uncle Saia
is behind Gasconade's business rsvt'
val At the government boat yard
| hnaha ana
harges are being turned out every day
TO be put into service In the improve
ment work on the Missouri river.
After spending . little money here
and q little there In haphazard sort
OF way for years to make the big river
once more highway for commerce.
the government suddenly has decided
TO use s2,60O 900 q year into the work.
and a large part Of II is going into
circulation et Gasconade.
From a email repair station ana
winter harbor, the Gasconade boat
yard suddenly has grown into a real
shipyard. where nearly 100 men ara
constantly employed, where modern
steel barges are being turned out bet
ter than private ahipyards have been
able to do the same work, and much
cheaper. In fact. the shipyard is saw
ing the government half the cost OF
! its operating expenses at the present
rate. For instance, on one Job OF SIX
steel barges, the saving In cost has
} been $4,000. The towboat Daniel
Boone. Just placed in commission. ana
q new towhoat. which probably will
be called the George s. Keith, in hon'
or OF the veteran river pilot who died
recently, will cost the government Just
twothirds Of wha the cost would
have been II the boats had been built
: by contract.
. The government feet now consists
Of eight towboats, three anagboats
and more than 400 barges, quarter
] boats, graders and plledrivers, all oa
. which are overhauled each winter aI
i. the Gasconads yard. Several more
towboats and other floating equipment
! are to be added this season,