The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-02
HIS BENFACTRESS.
By Rebecca T, Farnham.


Copyright. 1921. by the Wheeler
Syndicate, Inc)
want to buy a man." Lizzie
bent eagerly over her newspaper
and read on: Dick Center, aged
%, offers himself for sale for $4,000.
This sum he wishes to turn over
Immediately to woman who has
been a benefactress to him all his
life. 1t is for her sake that he is
willing to sell himself for life. to 60
anywhere or do anything his pur-
chaser desires"
The article appealed to Elizabeth
She was a spinster of 60, with
neither family nor friends, but rich
in worldly possessions, for upon
the death of her brothers, for whom
she had always kept house. she had
become sole possessor Of the 40
acre farm and some few thousand
dollars in the bank.
This little acquisition presented
her with a problem. How was she
to use her fortune in a way to give
her the most enjoyment and profit
Nice clothes would do her little
good on the farm. To move to the
village would mean to give up the
fields and woods that she loved and
to enter upon life to which she
was unaccustomed. Also she was
too sensitive to care to live among
the villagers. whose amused glances
said quite plainly of her odd, old
fashioned figure: "Only old Lizzie
Dodge. Not responsible. you know
But this offer presented solu,
ton. By purchasing this man she
could aid a worthy woman, regain
her decaying lands with a mans
help, and, have in him son tc
make her life less lonely. Besides
the romantic character of the affair
strongly appealed to her. So Eliz'
abeth wrote that night to Dick Cen,
ter via the Morning Times.
The answer came m person a few
weeks later. Dick Center was
thin, shabby and nervous.
IF you can give me the cash
now" he jerked out, I'll take it to-
night to my benefactress in Boston
Tomorrow night I'll be back again
ready to take up my duties"
Hadn't you better look over the
place first" suggested Lizzie, "and
see whether you want to do the
work or not!"
But Center was sure that would
be all right, and before Lizzie knew
exactly what had taken place she
had handed him the money with
drawn from the bank a few days be.
fore to be ready for the deal anG
was watching him fast disappear
ing down the hill.
The next afternoon Elisabeth
could hardly keep away from the
window that would give her the
first glimpse of he: property as he
returned. But evening came ant
Center had not appeared. When the
next day had passed and the morn
ing of the next, with the continued
absence of Center, Lizzie Dodgs be-
gan to be uneasy.
She hitched up that afternoon
and drove to the village. In front Of
the Emporium lounged some Of the
natives, who stared at her with
more than usual interest as she gol
out of the buggy. Before she could
enter the store one Of them stopped
her.
"Lissie," he said bluntly, "havs
you lost some money!?
WHAT?
Because you drew $4,000 out Of
the bank just last week and mans
been found with, just that on him.
"Where?"
"Ttm Jones saw him running Out
of your road. He tried to jump on
the train. fell and got crushed
What's left Of him is up at Peter.
sons"
Elizabeth got back into the buggy
and turned hershorss's head TOWARD
Peterson's, the makeshift for q hos
pital which the town used. He,
heart was humping in anxiety owe,
the fate Of Dick Center.
She found the victim OF the acct
dent surrounded BY = group Of
townspeople viewing him curious.
lly. For q moment she was pug.
zled at the publicity given this pa
tient. Then. in fash the implica,