The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-03-04
THE ASSISTANT.
A Plucky Girl and Her Life
Work.


old farmer, pausing inside the sanctum
door.
NO" promptly replied India. "T'm
only the assistant The editor has gone
to the depot. Won't you sit DOWN.
She rose and placed a box for his
seat. The only chair in the room was
a revolving one screwed to the floor be-
side the desk.
The farmer had come through sad
dler's shop to mount to the office. The
publishing room was divided from this
by temporary partition of pine boards.
He sat down with his hat on and
looked curiously around. Leaving his
mud-spattered person out of considera-
ton, it was place of oddities and be-
ginnings, rough plastered, and contain
ing but two windows, which looked
north over the black street, the rapidly
springing wooden houses, the vanish
ing railroad and prairie. Some wood
cuts were pasted on the wall. A fancy
paper-weight was among the files on
the desk. A bench, pushed out at the
end, as if its occupant had just left it.
stood before a table that depended for
was the exchange barrel.
''Well, l come to subscribe for the
paper" said the farmer. after she had
addressed several envelopes, talking to
him about the weather as she did so.
my brother will be glad to have
your NAME" said the assistant. How
,hall write it?'
''Isr'l Bonebrake's my name," said
the farmer, going deep into his trous-
ers and bringing up ragged pocket
book which, being opened. disclosed
green banks of wealth. whats the
amount?"
six months, or twenty-five cents for
three months, payable in advance"
"You don't ask enough" remarked
Mr.. Bonebrakc, coming forward to lay
down his dollar. 1.-Two dollars is the
figger for county papers. You folks
has started up with the town. You
must make it pay"
''Oh, we SHALL replied the assistant.
MY brothers will advance the price
as they improve the paper"
''tIow many air Their of your
attends to the publishing and adver-
Using; the other edits. assist. We've
heard Of You, Mr.. Bonebralse you
own some stock farms about here?"
"Yes," replied the farmer, non
chalantly. ~ got couple O. thou
sand acres or so west O. the place. The
place Is CROWN. isn't it?"
wonderfully. I think it's bound to
be q grain and stock center"
Nov you talk!'' said the farmer with
enthusiasm. ''Why, when came here
twenty years ago, 'twa'n't nothing but
perrara far as the eye could see. We've
planted hedges, and groves has growed
up. And six months ago the two rail
roads struck us and crossed. and here.
the town! killed rattlesnakes where
Powell's putin mp his ELEVATOR. Wei
be city"
'Its only question of time sait
the girl.
80 you youn,. folks come on herr
and started a paper. Had you ever ruI
paper before?"
my brothers are practical printers
have learned to do a great man.
things"
"a bet you have" said the farmer
with approval. 81 like smart wimnen
Some folks doesn't; but do"
''Oh, just help my brothers If tn
paper succeeds you must credit it Il
them. In the course of year the.
hope to get large press, and keep tn
hand-presses only for jobbing. The
will have to be very close and careful
but, if they make good paper, khp,
the people will stand by them
''Thcy will THAR said Mr.. Bone
brake. '.They won't lose for startir
in when the towns young"
Steps on the saddler's stairs MOI
brought young fellow into the roor
who threw his hat with a slam at tn
table and cried out:
II never saw such an abominab,
place as this ISL
The assistant gave him swift, salt
tary glance.
mir. Bone brake," she said. this
the editor. Mr.. Pink Bradshaw. On
of our new subscribers, Pink"
well, declare" said he, ''you don
look nothin' but boy!"
isn't your other brother no older3
inquired Mr.. Bonebrake of the ASST
tant.
Younger"
I'VE try to make mp in pluck whit
we lack in years." said Pink. But
But we're open to suggestions fro
old residents" said the assistant
well sejest keep on" said M
Boncbrake. Just you keep ahead"
my brother has been thinking
visiting you and some other promineI
stockmen," said the assistant, Ito g
an article about your methods"
"All right; come ahead! Well kill
chicken and give you bite to eat"
The farmer went smiling downstair