The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-04-29

fact that even his o~vercoat fell a sacrifice
to his vulgar craving for food-and cigars.
He told his landlady that, he expected a
remittance from the West, and from the
eager way IN which he watched the post
man she was inclined to believe him. A
week went by and he began to fear that
his syndicate was a failure. COLLAPSE
IN the Richard ~Frothington Trust" he
imagined as a headline in the newspapers,
and a wan smile overspread his pale face
at the thought.
One day, as he had Just arisen and was
wondering where he could obtain credit
for a breakfast, a rap came to his door
and a servant handed him three letters.
One was from a town in Alabama, an
other from an ambitious city in Nebraska
and the third from Bigtown, Mont. His
heart beat rapidly and his hands trembled
as he opened the epistle from the South.
1t was very short:
Mr.. Frothington.
SIR: Your communication received.
Go to the devil. Per order Of the common
Council.
Whewl" exclaimed Frothington. "Is
this Southern courtesy? But I'll have
my revenge. I'll disobey the order of the
common council"
Then he opened the letter from Ne
braska. 1t was not quite as harsh as the
preceding:
Dear Sir: Thanks for your favor of
the til. Cannot entertain your propo-
sItlOn, as our funds are completely ex-
hausted by our effort to obtain the Worlds
Fair Of 1892. Might make you a feature
Of the show, if we get it. Keep US in
formed OF your future movements.
This was not so bad, but could not be
turned into cash.
Heartsick, Frothington opened the
communication from Bigtown, Mont. To
his delight and astonishment-for he had
lost faith in his scheme-a check for fifty
dollars fell into his hand. The letter read:
Mr.. Frothington.
Dear Sir: AS u town now holds the
meaneSt man in the West we feel that
your presence would be ~ruinOus. Please
send us at once a sworn affidavit to the
effect hat you Will never visit Bigtown.
Frothington jumped about the room in
ecstacy. He had sent out forty-fve let
tiers. If he obtained fifty dollars apiece
from one third of them he would have
seven hundred and fifty dollars at his
command, enough to last him until again
inspired.
That afternoon, however, his delight
was somewhat dashed by the receipt of
two letters threatening him with prose-
cution for blackmaiI. But with them
was another epistle containing a fifty
dollar check, so he cast dull care away
and spent the evening at the theatre.
Ten letters reached him in the morn
ing. Only three Of them contained money
One town in South Dakota sent him
twenty-five dollars. "Not," said the
mayor, because we recognize your
claim, but as a reward for originality"
1t was not until two Gays latter that
he was handed the communication which
decided his fate. 1t was dated from
Slashington, Kan, and ran as follows:
Richard Frothington.
H0ROTed SIR: You have doubtless heard
of the riproaring pub and get-there
energy which Characterizes our town.
We have now a church, three drug stores,
eleven houses, fourteen aldermen and a
mayor. If you are, as your letter asserts,
the meanest man in New York, we want
you to come here at once. Your services
are needed in booming this place and sell
ing town-lots. Enclosed you will find a
ticket from New York to Slashiugton.
Telegraph us when you leave and we'll
have a band ready to meet you.
The letter was signed by the mayor
and fourteen aldermen.
Frothington looked pensively from his
window. "What is New York to me
that I should weep for her % he unused.
Farewell, metropolis, l 90 to Kansas,
to Slashington, where appreciation, fame,
friends and fortune await me-"
Then he went forth, redeemed his over
coat paid a few bills, telegraPhed to
Slashington and started for the West.
Richard Frothington is now one of the
richest men in Kansas, and under his
guidance S~lashington has become a great
town. He is convinced that it sometimes
pays to corner a thing the public does
not want.-EdWard s. Van NIe, IN New
York World.