The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1899-05-03
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CLEMENT MILTON HAMMOND.

M ILLS Il BANGS were in bad
| N way. Stein q Son had built a
big, new mill and fitted II out
with the very latest pattern OF machinery
a year before, and they were producing
worsteds for 20 per cent. less than Mills
Il Bangs. "Shoddy," 30 the salesmen of
the old firm told the trade, but the trade
wanted low-priced goods to sell at a
profit.
1--WE don't want stuff that will wear
forever" said the trade. "Give us some
thing that looks good, and when it wears
out it will get back to you through the
ragmen, and you can grind it up again
and mix some new wool and good deal
of cotton with it. Weave it into new de-
signs and we'll sell it again for you"
Mills q Bangs didn't want to do this.
In the first place, Bangs was superin-
tendent Of a Sunday-school and had very
strict notions about the amount Of shod-
dy that should go into worsteds on which
his name was put. Besides, the ma
chinery in their mill was oll.fsshioned
and SLOW and required half as many
again of men and women and boys as
the more modern plant of Stein & Son.
So things grew worse and worse with
the old firm. They ran full time till
they we're hopelessly overstocked. They
laid off help; they cut wages, and then
ran first on two-thirds aud then on half
time. The reserve capital OF the firm
was used up; the bank balance was
drawn down to few thousand dollars,
and reports from statesmen in the West
and South we're as bad as possible.
Then Mills and Bangs held an exc
cutive session and John Mills stated the
condition Of affairs to his partner very
plainly.
ave have got pretty near to the end
of our rope, Henry, and unless we can
raise hundred thousand dollars at once
with which to put in new machinery
we're done for. How can we raise it2"
Henry Bangs knew about as much
how to raise 100000 as he did how to
raise the dead, and he said 80.
"If had any excuse to go to our
banks-but it's no use," said Mills.
"They know we are weak, and l don't
believe they'd let us have So 900 on our
paper. We can unload the stock on
hand at sacrifice and raise few taous-
and-just enough to prolong the agony"
LIE THE FIRST.
When John Mills went home that
night he lied to his wife, and she knew
it.
"You look worried, john" she said to
him after dinner and when the children
had gone to bed. els it business?"
"No, dear, business is looking up every
day. Reports from the West and South
are fine. Stein & Co. can hardly give
their stuff away They are losing money
today on every yard of cloth they make"
And John Mills excused this to him.
self by saying that it was enough for one
of the family to worry, and that know
ledge of the true state Of affairs could dc
no possible good.
But the little wife did not think 80
and she did worry. She knew what was
needed at the mill, and she knew that it
would take great deal Of money to do
it. She knew that the banks had plenty
Of money, and that if they were sure of
repayment they would be very glad to
loan it. She knew, too, that if the bust
ness of the firm was prosperous that
their simple notes would be sufficient
1t was late the next afternoon when
an idea came to her. 1t was startling,
audscious, and with mammoth lie for
its foundation. But why not lie if the
lie were for his good and would do no
harm He had lied to her for her good,
so he thought, and now she would lie to
him for his good-for their mutual good.
LIE THE SECOND.
When John Mills came home that