The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-05
A GREAT INVESTMENT 7.

On the porch of the country store at
the Center sat two old and gray beard
ed men. Around a bend in the road
beyond a third old and gray bearded
man had just come into sight
The newcomer stopped before them.
his face beaming with smiles, and with
an air of conscious pride held out for
their inspection what proved to be
highly polished stove lid
There she is he cried THE pretti-
est and cheapest stove polish ever in
vented I knowed the minnit I'd put
that taller and vinegar in the last
batch that I'd got it,
1T does look NICE said Isaac. blink
ing from one to the other.
Now, Jet" said Uriah, taking an
extra chew of fine cut and leaning back
in his chair. las you're the one that hes
got this thing up. what's your idea OF
getting it out? How has it got to be
made and sold?
WELL said Jet, squaring himself
back, my idea is just 10 make some
of the stuff and go out and sell II. I've
fggered the whole thing out, and II Just
amounts to this: 1t will cost l cent
a cake to make this stove polish. We
sell it for 10 cents. That gives US q
profit of 1926 gross Now, each
one of US ought to sell a gross every
day Tnebbe more, but Well put II at
one gross to be on the safe SIDE. Now
saw our expenses are IS day. That
leaves us $40 a day profit, all put
cents. and that beats farming all mol
@Jet. old boy, we're with you'll" cried
Uriah, Shaping the other on the PACK.
1 L tell you, gentlemen, We're pounu 70
make something out OF TINS; Just ~
think, SO a day is nearly $500 montn
more money than we can take IN now
That's So" said Isaac. rising slowly
ali g
I'll have to get back and do chores
The other two watched him out OF
sight.
Hardly the man for this kind OF
Wen, 1 don't know Ike's a good
| fellow"
Good fellowl Why. of course he is.
| Nobody thinks more of Ike than 1 do
| Why. I'd be willing he should go along
for company if he didn't do a stroke
But then he is sloW-dOn't catch on to
people quick enough. You see, what
you want is a man that has some dig
nifty about him and knows how TO ap-
proach people in the right sort of way
4 Why he'd go into a mans parlOr just
the same as if he was going into a COW
stable Well, sir, that may do around
here, but it won't do in the big towns,
and that's where you'll make your mon
ey But, then, if you think won't do,
oh I amt afraid but what you'll
do all right answered Jet, anxious to
conciliate. But I allow have got my
doubts of Ike"
"Of course you have. You're man
of sense and couldn't help but have
doubts I'll have to cut across here.
But think the matter over, Jet; think
1t over;
'.In do that" answered Jet en-
phatica1ly as he started on alone again
He walked on rapidly until he came
to an old barn along the road. The
roof of the barn had been blown OF
thing looked very dilapidated, but very
familiar to Jet, for it was his barn.
A tall, thin and melancholy looking
woman was bending over a washtut
at the pump. She Strengthened up and
stopped Tier work as Jet came up.
He went on into the house and put tht
stove lid he had been carrying on the
stove Then came out and sat down neal
''' :sThey say there's $40 a. day in it for
sure thing; that's what they saw
well. I'm glad if there is said the wo
man, signing softly The Lord KNOWS W
need it Is llriah and Ike going to TAKE
hold of it with your
''NIebbe they are and mebbe they amt
. I know them fellers better than to trus
+ either of them can make 5000 a yeai
, out of it and go it alone.
Cant you get me that wrapper tonigh
then2 It's only 20 cents
"Only 20 centst Confound it, don't VOL
know that it viii take every cent I car
rake and scrape to get the thinss started
two weeks from now than spare a cen
. tonight
was yell from the kitchen, followed b!
the loud voice of a man:
''Phewi Judasi What the devils VI
here anyway Are you trying to burn tn
house DOWN."
Jet made a jump for the door and h
stopped aghast The stove lid, SO highl,
polished but a moment before was nov
a dull. dirty red while above it curIed
| thick dfngy smoke. bearing with it al
odor strong enough to knock down
horse
rs that the way your polish works
Jet? asked a young man coming aroun'
| the house holding his nose.
Jet gave a snort of disgust Il suppos
| you'll have to blab it all over town, h
srowled and. turning away suli1ilv, wen
| off to the barn
4 think it's a good thing I saved egg
enough to get that wrapper returne e
the woman as she tried to blow the Smok
out Of the house with her apron