Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1921-06-02
A Successful
Failure
BY WILLIAM FALL
Q. -. Western Newspaper imam


& Co, Stocks and Bonds" from the
glittering plate glass windows. He
passed the elevator starter, who halted
him by gently catching his arm.
1--WE heard of it, Mr.. Talcott,' he
said, his voice quiyeriug. Sir, my
wife didn't sleep all night over ii. She
says there's a room for you under
the roof you helped us save all your
life long, if youll take it,"
THANK you" nodded the broker.
''Teli your wife it's such people as YOU
that make man think there's some
good in the world
Men turned and noted the tall, grace
full figure as Talcott passed. There
was always something royal in his
bearing Even with Failure written
that day against his business career,
a dauntless courage showed in his
kindly, steady eye.
Talcott had brought half a dozen
letters from the Office He opened
them in turn. Five were of no conse-
uuence. The last one startled him.
1t announced that an old pensiOner Of
his, James Gregory, living in another
city, had died leaving him his entire
estate-"apply at once to Dockkery &
Bates, attorneys
Twenty-four hours later the senior
member of that firm escorted the
broker to a secluded city court. In
the center of a vacant lot stood a
large covered wagon. 1t had windows
like a house and was divided into
three diving compartments. Seated
on the grass reading from school
books were three small boys Near
by was young lady of about eight
cen. She was sewing and four little
girls were copying her industry.
"Mr. Gregory has left you two
horses and that wagon. with all hands
Included said the lawyer, grimly. I'm
addition. here is the deed already re-
corded in your name, TO a six hundred
and forty acre tract of wild land a
hundred miles from here, up near the
pineries"
And this is my legacyW murmured
the perplexed Talcott.
Exactly. Miss Gregory will explain
the details" and the lawyer left him.
Talcott advanced towards the young
lady and introduced himself. He
fancied he had never seen so kindly
and peaceful a face Her simple story
was soon told. Her dead father, an
eccentric, had taken in charge, gradu-
ally. some homeless orphans For
them and herself he had worked, tray
cling about the country in the wagon
and doing odd jobs as tinker.
When the broker asked her IS to
her plans for the future, she only
looked helplessly and pathetically at
him.
They talked for over an hour. Blunt
iy Talcott told of his real situation.
He suggested a plan. He needed rest;
a change. the doctors had said. Here
Il was ready made TO order They
would go to "the farm" as he called
1t. 1t was their only tangible in
heritance.
Talcott went to sleep that night
feeling the great load of broken past
lifted from his mind The odd, the
new, the unknown life attracted him.
He awoke with a headache the next
morning. The reaction had come. BY
noon he had a fever, by nightfall he
was delirious.
/, 10 a
blank He awOke to find himself,
weak and emaciated, lying on bed
In the boys end Of the wagon. Tai,
colt tried to arise. He. sank back
weakly with a groan. Instantly from
the wagon living room a light form
came into view 1t was Miss Gregory
Wonder-eyed and grateful, Talcott
learned how the brave little woman
had nursed him, and carried out the
plan of the journey to "the farm"
Here they were, the children industri-
Gus and happy, and oh such grand
fortune, and her eyes danced as she
told him CT t.
"A railroad IS building right through
your section" she explained, land the
wagon stands on the new town site.
A man has been here daily to see you
about selling him some Of the prop
erty"
The man appeared next day. He
looked Talcott over shrewdly. Then
ne said
Il see you are keen business man,
so III talk sense / am lans specula-
tor. III give you ten thousand dol
lars for quarter section, and fifty
per cent of what / make on another
quarter section selling town lots"
'You mean" replied the broker,
gently, twenty thousand dollars and
seventy-five per cent"
II guess I've figured wrong said
the Spectator. you're up to snuff.
Wen, I'm ready to trade
And what is your plan now, Mr.,
Talcott? asked the motherly guar
dian of the little coterie Of children
a few days later. you are almost
rich again"
Il shall build nice roomy home
answered Talcott, "and we will all