The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-07-27
Some Easy Marks
By N. QUAD
Copyright 1910 by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.
By N. QUAD

| '"N oNkhhhshks " th"t " my nOt Dt "
great puzzle to your brain. It may b,
stated that there was a widow named
RSdgeway living at Colville. Q town OF
1000 inhabitants.
There was living, also. at Beach Hill
a lawyer named hammond. Beach
Hin 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 HHl
was a place called widowville. There
was a good reason for II. Five wild
overs, all farmers, had built their
houses there. Each widower had a
lot Of children, numbering from Ave
TO eight.
Between Beach Hill and Widow.
vile was a farm Of eighty acres called
the Lester farm. In seven years It
had had Eve tenants. The soil was 80
poor that they all starved out. This
farm the Widow Ridgeway leased.
or course the Ave 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
It 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 be 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. IL the farmers could spare
a little time from their own work they
might plow a little and plant little
for her and thus help her along. or
course they would. They would be
only too glad to do II. What crop did
the widow think would pay her best2
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 big
planting II he puts In ten. The wild
overs elevated their eyebrows I'm 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 II
was eventually plowed and dragged.
IL was then that the widow made an
She gathered together
the five tired men at the back door and
said:
my friends. do not think lack
when l tell you that I know
you are all In love with me and intend
to propose marriage. 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 shall
look upon as being the most worthy to
become my husband"
Satisfaction cleaned In the eyes of
every widower.
To plant sixty acres OF ground takes
a heap Of seed potatoes. The widow
didn't have a peck. The Ave 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 fubers were ripe for digging
The potato trust sent man 10 offer so
,ents a bushel, which was the usual
price. Two weeks later, after II had
been ascertained that not another po-
tato would be offered for sale In that
part OF the state. IL raised its offer to
70 cents. and the widow took IT,
W ueu tuC idst potuto udu pttu iouu-
ID up and drawn away the widow
Ridgeway gave banquet to the five |
and II was known that her |
,hoice was to ne announced. The |
'armers noticed that eight plates were |
,laced on the table. That meant two |
more persons were to sit down. They |
lrrived. II was Lawyer Hammond and |
he Baptist preacher from the village. |
What business had brought themi in |
luired each farmer Of himself, but no
me had solved the question when the
banquet was finished. and the lawyer
ose up and said:
Gentlemen. this has been a great
ace between who should have the
Widows 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
worthy OF this good woman's love that
he cannot decide which one Of you TO
Iccept She cannot marry the whole
I've OF you, as you must know. and
ather than give herself TO one and
make the four others miserable for
lie she has decided 10 marry the sixth
nan. which Is me-" The marriage took
.laaa huf thara mana a.. -. - |