Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1899-03-09
Saint Harg's Beacon.
SAVED By 1 LIE.


mill aud fitted it ont with the very
latest pattern Of machinery year
before, and they we're producing
sorsteds for 20 per cent less than
Mile & Bangs. "Shodds," 30 the
statesmen of the old firm told the
trade bat the trade wanted low
priced goods TO sell at a profit.
eve don't want stufs that will
wear forever" said the trade
"Give rs something that looks
good, and when il wears ont will
get back to you through the ragmen.
and Won can grind IL up again and
mix some new WOOL and good deal
Of cotton with it. Weave il into
new designs and We will sell il
again for you."
AilIs & Bangs didn't want TO do
this. In the irst place, Bangs vas
superintendent Of Sunday school
and had very strict notions about
the amount of shoddy that should
90 into worsteds on which his name
was pnt. Besides. the machinery
in their mill vas old fashioned and
allow. and required half as many
again OF men and women and boys
az the more modern plant of Stein
& Son.
So things grew worse and worse
with the old irm. They ran full
tine till they we're hopeIessly over.
stocked. They laid of help; they
cut wages, and then ran first on
two thirds aud then on one-ha lf
time. The reserve capital of the
firm was used mp. the bank balance
was drawn down to feH thousand
dollars and reports from salesmen
in the West and South were as bad
as possible.
Then Mills & Bangs held an ex
ecutive session and John Mills stat
ed the condition of affairs to his
partner verv plainly.
1--WE have got pretty near to the
end Of our rope, Henry. and unless
we can raise Q hundred thousand
dollars at once with which to. put
il. new machinery we're done for
How can we raise it ?''
Henry Bangs knew about rs
much how to raise 100000 as he
did bow to raise the dead aud he
said so.
elf had any excuse to go to our
banks-but it's no use," said Mile
"They know we are weak, and |
don't believe they let Us have so,
600 on our paper. We can unload
the stock on hand ut sacrifice and
raise few tbousand-just enough
to prOlong the agony"
LIE THE FIRST.
When John Mills went home that
night he lied to his wife, and she
knew il.
"You look worried. john" she
said to him after dinner and when
the children had gone to bed. Is
it business 20
mo, dear, business is looking
mp every day. Reports from the
West aud South are fine. Stein C
Co., can hardly give their stuff
away. They are losing money to.
day on every yard of cloth they
make"
And John Mills excused this to
himself by saving that it was
enough for one of the family to
worry, and that knowledge of the
true state OF affairs could do no
possible good.
But the little wife did not think
so and she did worry. She knew
what was needed at the mill, and
she knew that it would take a great
deal Of money to do it. She knew
that the banks had plenty Of none
ard that il they we're sure of re
payment thew would be very glad
to loan it. She knew. too, that if
the business Of the firm vas pros
porous that their simple notes
would be sufficient.
Ii was late the next afternoon
when an idea came to her. Il was
startling. audacious, and with q
mammoth lie for its foundation.
But Why not lie IL the lie were for
his good and would do no harm ?
He had lied to her for her good, so
ne thought. and nov she would lie
to him for his good-for their mu-
tual good.
LIE THE SECOND.