The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1916-05-26
Some Easy Marks
BY M. QUAD
Copyright, 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.

RldgeWay living at Colville, town of
1000 inhabitants.
There was living, also, at Beach Hill
lawyer named Hammond. Beach
Hill and Colville were forty miles
apart, but the lawyer and the widow
had somehow become acquainted, and
perhaps they would have fallen In love
had either been able to support the
other. Five miles from Beach Hill
was place called Widowville. There
was good reason for it. Five wild
overs, all farmers, had built their
houses there. Each widower had a
lot of children. numbering from FIVE
to eight.
Between Beach Hill and Widow.
vile was farm of eighty acres called
the Lester farm. In seven years 1t
had had five tenants. The soil was SO
poor that they all starved out. This
farm the Widow Ridgeway leased.
OF course the five widowers of Wild
owville heard of the Widows arrival
and what she proposed to do, and they
pricked up their ears and said that
something would be doing. Enos
Cook, who had the biggest number of
children, was the first one to drive
over and introduce himself.
Jason Turner was the next caller,
and he went over the same ground and
came away feeling just as good. So
1t was with Luke Harper, Moses Swift
and Philetus Johnson. All looked upon
the Widow Ridgeway as a prize to be
won, and each one determined In his
own mind to win her, though he didn't
say anything to the others about it.
Two weeks had passed when they
all called again, and this time their
talk with the widow was more free.
1t was at the third call that the plot
developed. If the farmers could spare
a little time from their own work they
might pillow little and plant a little
for her and thus help her along. OF
course they would. They would be
only too glad to do 1t. What crop did
the widow think would pay her best?
She promptly answered that potatoes
would probably be the best selling
crop. How many acres? Why, she
had figured out that about sixty acres
would be the right thing.
Sixty acres of potatoes! Why, the
average farmer thinks he has a big
planting II he puts in ten. The wild
overs elevated their eyebrows in some
thing like horror, but after a confer
ence lasting an hour 1t was agreed to
come to the widows figures. When II
came time for blowing the FIVE brought
their teams and plows and worked
happily together. When they couldn't
come themselves they sent their hired
men. Sixty acres is big field, but 1t
was eventually plowed and dragged.
1t was then that the widow made an
announcement. She gathered together
the five tired men at the back door and
said
MY friends, do not think l lack
modesty when tell you that l know
you are all in love with me and intend
to propose marriage. l like you all.
You are good and true men. l cannot
as yet say that prefer one to another. !
but | am going to carry out a plan.
The one that does the most for me in |
this matter of the potato crop l shall
look upon as being the most worthy to |
become my husband"
Satisfaction cleaned In the eyes Of 1
every widower.
To plant sixty acres of ground takes
heap of seed potatoes. The widow !
didn't have peck. The five farmers
Clipped in and bought them for her.
They planted them for her. When IL
was time they plowed them out and
hoed them for her. Again, when II
was time they dug them for her.
When the tubers were ripe for digging
the potato trust sent man to offer so
cents bushel, which was the usual
price. Two weeks later. after 1t had
been ascertained that not another DO.
Lato would be offered for sale in that
part of the state, 1t raised its offer to
70 cents, and the widow took 1t.
When the last potato had been load.
ID up and drawn away the widow
Ridgeway gave a banquet to the five
farmers, and 1t was known that her
choice was to be announced. Th
noticed that eight plates were
placed on the table. That meant twol
more persons were to sit down. They
lrrived. 1t was Lawyer Hammond and
he Baptist preacher from the village.
What business had brought them? in.
luired each farmer of himself. but no
me had solved the question when the
was finished. and the lawyer
ose up and said:
Gentlemen, this has been a great
ace between who should have the
heart and hand. You have all
lone nobly. Each one of you has
hown himself to be a good and true
nan. In fact, you all have been so 4
worthy of this good woman,s love that
he cannot decide which one of you TO
ccept She cannot marry the whole
we OF you, as you must know, and
ather than give herself to one and
1ake the four others miserable for
lie she has decided to marry the sixth
IAN, which is me-" The marriage took
lace, but there were FIVE men who
ID not smile nor offer a congratula-
on. Their faces were very solemn as
leV Slid ont of fbo ho,,so "a $3.50