St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1937-08-20

:
the current object of his affection.
You can be sure, then, that it was
far from difficult matter to en-
tice some stunning brownskin to
take a nosedive in the golden pool
of his devotion. The only appar-
ent difficulty was to keep them
diving one at time. For his in
herent honesty in all things ex-
tended to his amorous exploits-no
chiseling; one woman at a time.
He might-and usually did-tire of
feminine attention at an early
stage, but whatever else the girl
might have thought about her loss,
of one thing she could be certain
while she had held his interest no
one else had had a chance. The
breath-tahng, flaming passion that
characterized his devotion might
burn out quickly and be sorely
missed, but, like a valuable jewel
that changes possessors, it imbues
both the old and new owners with
the satisfaction that the treasure
was and would be theirs alone for
while, at least.
Altogether, he lived full, free,
square life, drinking the cup to
the dregs.
On the door through which
visitor entered a palatial suite of
offices in the Roanoke building was
neat gold and black sign which
read, Moses Craddock, Attorney
at-Law."
The tenant within was called
Interest" Craddock by his asso-
ciates. There was a very good rea-
son for giving the man this cog
nomen. Whatever he did for any
one came back laden with heavy in
terest. And when it got home it
hibernated-he never gave any
thing back.
That many favors had been done
and substantially paid for could be
attested to by the undeniable fact
that he was very successful per-
son in his profession. A veritable
black hurricane in court, his hard
brilliance brought him the respect
of judges, the envy of lawyers, and
the gratitude of clients. (The lat
ter was carefully remembered by
Interest.) 1t was pretty thorough
ly understood by those in desperate
need of legal succor that if Grad
dock couldn't fix it you had better
skip bail and vamoose. And for
that service, whatever the outcome,
you paid-in front, and through
the nose. .
He and his Biblical namesake
had nothing but the name in COM
mon. Moses had feared God and
had loved humanity. Craddock
feared nobody and loved Craddock.
He was about as devoid of senti-
ment as a steel rail, his only in
terests in life being himself and
his possessions, from which he was
never known to part.
Among these possessions was
Verda Trent. Craddock loved
Verda as much as he could ever
love anything besides himself.
But even statue could have car
ried the torch for Verda.
She was the proprietor of a
beauty parlor (set up by Interest),
and if ever business had a walk
ing ad, Verda's Beauty Salon was
it. Any attempt to satisfactorily
describe her would be futile. I am
only going to say that whatever
your conception is of perfect love-
illness she was it.
Verda was the only person alive
toward whom Craddock had ever
displayed trace of altruism. This
in itself should be the ultimate
tribute.
Clark Griffith first saw Verda
in the newly erected home of the
popular Jim and Myra Scott. The
occasion was party being given
by the SCOTS for a visiting inter-
nationally known band leader,
"Slim" Walters. The famous
maestro rated the best, and his
hosts were laying it down. The
city's most exclusive Senegambian
rug-cutters were there, and gayety
rode the roost.
Clark arrived in fine fettle. He
came alone (which was nothing
short of a miracle) looking like
Beau Brummel mellowed with four
Scotch-and-sodas.
He dashed up the steps, hum
ming the tune which the orchestra
within was playing with romantic
pianissimo.
Jim Scott met him at the door