The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-04-03
He Was
Wooing
by Proxy
BY CLARA DELAFIELD
GO. 1924. Western Newspaper Union.)

O1
friend" he said. "She's a determined
woman, she sure is. She set her eye
on me and l got to marry her.
Last time 1 saw her she wanted tc
know why l hadn't been to see her fol
half a week, and if 1 was the KIND
that deceived innocent, trustful WON
en-. No, Tom, she's sure got me onless
l could find a friend who would help
me out"
well, Bill" Tom scratched his
head thoughtfully. 81 shore would
like to help out but"
"She's got twelve thousand dollars
In the bank" put in Bill eagerly. and
you're a more presentable kinder man
than me-"
you want me to take her often yore
hands?"
"Why, it's this way, Tom. l was
thinkin', suppose you was to go see
the widow and make as if you'd come
courtin' on my behalf. Make out as
I'm too shy and narvis, and so on.
Materially she'll despise me fer that.
And you know how them things allus
turns out. There was that Teller, Miles
Standish-you heard of him?"
what, him that had the fancy
goods emporium down on Main street?
That was Jim Standish, warn't it?"
mo, not that guy. This guy died
years ago, before you and me was
born. Well, he was in love with some
gel or other-I don't recall her name
and he sent his best friend to ask
her, and the gel and the friend fell in
love instead.
"Now, that s my idea, Tom, old
friend. You go see the Widow jerks.
and make as if you've come from me.
You and her will fall in love-and
she's got twelve thousand in the bank.
And that's no lie, because she was
thinkin' of buyin' the Rutter farm last
month"
Tom meditated. eff 1 do it, it's jest
out of friendship, old pal" he said.
81 wouldn't do as much fer every man.
But I'll go see the widow and find how
the land lays"
Bill wrung his hand. you never
went back on me yet, Tom," he said
gratefully, land 1 know you never
will. And it amt as if the Widow
jerks wasn't a fine woman, not to
speak of that twelve thousand in the
bank"
I'll do my best" Tom promised
him.
Bill spent the rest of the day in
heaven. He had known the Widow
jerks for ten weeks now, ever since
that unfortunate meeting at the church
sociable. Tom was a widower, but
Bill was an old bachelor. He had
reached the age Of fifty without ex-
posing himself to the snareS of wom-
en-, and had considered himself i'm
until he took the Widow jerks
home from the aforementioned socia-
BILE.
He had presumed too far. She had
oestered him continually since that
Unhappy date. She wouldn't let him
alone. She seemed to look upon them
as good as engaged.
His hair stood on end when he
thought of the awful possibility of be-
ng married to her. How well he
that type of woman. How he
new what would happen if he mar
led her. He wouldn't be able to call
IFS soul his own.
He waited for Tom to return to his
that night, as he had prom
sed. 1t was growing late when he
leard footsteps outside-solid, manly
footsteps. Eagerly he rushed to the
Ioor and opened it.
Outside stood the Widow Jenksl
She grasped him in her arms and
ell upon his neck, s~mothering him
With embraces.
Darling old Bill % she cried. "Your
friend Tom told me all. 1 was all
ut engaged to be married to Mr..
Harper, the m%achinist, but when Tom
anne to me in such a manly way and
aid how much you loved me, and how
on dared not speak for fear of being
l hadn't the heart to resist.
knew where my love was then. And
We fixed the day. It's Tuesday
AT last she was gone, and Bill
9aned groaning against the table.
days of freedoml
There came a knock at the door.
ON stood outside.
"Well, Bill, 1 fixed it," he grinned.
Seen her yet? She sure is a fine
you hound, you went back on
Easy, easy, old pal. l did what you
sked me, and mighty glad to do it,
eein' as she'd got me jest where she'd
ot you and pore old Harper. I did
st what you asked, Bill, and I'm
lore sorry fer you it worked out as
did, but when I sized her up I knew
velve thousand dollars wasn't goin'
hold me to that-no, sir. And me
ad Harper's goin' to give you a we'd
m present in love and g~ratitood."