Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-06-17
PRINTERS FRANKS.


had helped IL elect, and they did not know
thing about the insanity breeding prob
lem Of rule and figure work. They chad
learned the trade like many another man
In the countryand could set straight COM.
position with anybody. e.. .ur, ..,.<
Watson, indeed, bad developed talent
for display lines and could satisfy all the
demands of Watertown merchants for en-
velopes and letterheads. and by following
the general form of ancient, wall borne
specimens, could edo" sales bills to your
hearts delight. 49,.
But who should save them from the pit
falls of rules and figures?
AS they stood 1T the bottom of the stair
way thinking of these things they saw
looked twice at stranger. 1t was just
unhurried enough to spare the time.
This man was of medium height slen-
der, with the appearance Of one who has
fourished in cities, catching the style and
the garments that are unusual in the coun-
try. His hands were slender, and there
was something about the right thumb
and foretnger which proclaimed his craft
at once.
"He's printer" said Watson.
=. Hes seen the sign and is coming
over" said Wilson.
The new man paused at the entrance
way, read the cardboard office signs on
the stairway, looked at the two men crit
ically and inquired:
ANY chance for works.
Glow did you know we were the pub
lishers?" asked Watson.
"How did you know I was printer?''
asked the man.
In the afternoon he took charge Of the
delinquent list, and in half an hour they
knew they were secure. He was a crafts
man. He knew everything from bending
rule to casting rollers.
But he would not pull the hand press,
and he would not work Saturday after
noon. They labored with him on these
points, but be laughed and said be was
past it.
He was given to TESTING, and one Of his
happiest thoughts was to shoot a spray of
water into the eye of an inquisitive citizen
who wanted to see purple stars in galley
Of dead type wetted for distribution.
He changed the figures in the ADVERTISE
ment of lands delinquent after the first is
sue and wondered if the money lenders
who should later purchase could make
good title with defective publication.
In good many ways he enjoyed him
SELF 1t was clear to every one that he held
the town and all its belongings in some
thing like contempt, but he was SO amia-
BILE about it, SO suave in his treatment of
people, that punishment was unthought
of and antipathy was disarmed.
When Watson & Wilson began adyertis-
ing for the Fourth of July celebration, the
printer was ready to move. He had work
ed three months in one town and was
hungry for the city.
They wanted him to stay. They sat
down one day in June, when "the paper
was off," and tried to argue it. He told
them he must make confession.
There was young woman in the town,
Observation-Disclosures, he feared-of man
whom he regarded as his friend, and she
had smiled upon him. She was very fair,
and he feared he might forget himself,
prove disloyal and court girl to his
friends undoing.
They applauded the chivalric sentiment
and went away-Watson assured it was
Wilson's young lady, Wilson convinced it
was Watson's girl.
The Fourth of July had come. Wilson
was master of ceremonies. Watson was
leader of the band. People came in dele
cations from the country. There was a
cannon on the bluff and a float on the
river.
Wilson wanted something with which to
load that 20 FOUNDER. Cramming down
wet paper was good in it's way, but it
didn't make noise enough. The printer
suggested old roller composition. There
we're loads of it in the big box on the land
ing. 1t was the one indestructible thing
on earth.
Gram down that roller composition, -
said the printer, land they will hear your
old cannon in IA counties every time she
speaks. -
Wilson did as directed. Watson came by
with the band. Wilson pulled very long
rod of iron from fire, ran across the open
space and whipped his redhot torch upon
the powder sprinkled touchhole of the 30
FOUNDER. " J..
The powder famed into geyser of fire.
There were flash, pause and then q
shock which stopped the current of the
river. The roller composition had chung
to the guns interior, refusing ejectlnent
and the cannon was shattered in a hun.
dred pieces.
The noise was terrible. The conclusion
shook Watson from his feet and hurled
half of the band in q pile above him. Il
lifted the ambitious Wilson and set him
down in the leading wagon of passing
delegation. How the crowd escaped I'M
harmed was marvel no man could solve
The forward four feet of the cannon
leaped 50 yards and stood up like post
the yielding but tenacious ancient compo
sition bubbling like a blossom from tn,
ragged iron. .-..-
Watson excused himself, while the Grove
was making inquiries and started up towr
for the printer .-.:f
Wilson climbed out of the country man!
wagon and Joined his partner in the search
A messenger boy from the telegraph Of
Zoe met them at the bottom of the stair.
with the regulation yellow envelope. p.
Watson opened it, and Wilson read ovel
his shoulder. The date was In country
seat 30 miles away: ''- *''.'
~ heard your cannon" ~.
And that was the last they ever heard
of the printer. Leroy Armstrong in In
!! land Printer.