Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1905-12-07


library, and Mrs. Johnston was in the
sitting-room, partially closed the SLID
ing door between us, and said: %Lft
him canvass you, while listen, and SEE
! what Kind Of a worker he is."
He made a proposition to send the
magazir for year at ten cents week.
so cents of which must be paid to him.
cash in advance.
After making a rapid canvass on the
magazine, he produced a Haviland china
| plate, and said: "As a special induce
ment to get subscribers. we send as a
premium, within three days from the
time you subscribe, an SS-piece set of
| this limoges"
How can your firm AFFORD to send
$50 set of dishes with a $3.50 subscrip-
toni"
He explained that the publishers had
received 5000 900 worth of advertising
contracts, and had indiscreetly given
sworn statement to the advertisers that
the paper had a paid-up circulation OF
over 100000 copies per week, whereas,
of about 100000, and in order to increase
its circulation and avoid exposure, was
making this wonderful offer.
But" said Mrs. Johnson, "what
security have for my money? What
evidence have that the dishes, or even
the magazine will ever be delivered to
me?"
why" said he, 81 will give you
receipt for your so cents"
Signed by whom ?" asked Mrs. Johns
ton.
by me-" he replied.
But, how do know you are RESPONSE
ble?" was the next query. Let me see
your blank form of receipt"
On looking it over carefully, she said:
How does it happen that the name of
your publishing house doesn't appear
on this receipt? 1t seems very strange
that you should be out collecting money
fer a large concern, and giving your per-
sonal receipt for moneys paid in. How
does this happen, and how would know
who to address in case the dishes failed
to arrive? Not ever your home address
is given here"
But" said he, every one knows this
firm"
mo, not everyone" said Mrs Johns
ton. 81 am constant reader of maya
zines and newspapers, yet never heard
of such firm, and dare say there are
many others who are ignorant of it's ex-
istence."
At this juncture pushed open the IL
Srary door and appeared on the scene.
Let's see, what is your manner" ]
said.
Mr.. -" he replied.
And where is your home Mr.. -2
"Pittsburg," he answered.
We'll, now, Mr.. -" said |, you
evidently have a pretty smooth little
graft here, and guess it's all your own
too, isn't it?"
1T depends" he coolly replied, what
you call a graft, SIR"
What l call a graft" answered, '1l
anything where a man resorts to trick
cry to inveigle people into parronizine
him, and then gives them nothing fol
their money"
How can this be a graft, If we sent
them the magazine and the dishes?"
If" put in; but you don't, and yoI
know it; you have already admitted
that the publishers of your magazine
are perjurers; that they swore to false
hood, and therefore committed a peni
Tertiary offense, in an effort to swindlt
advertisers"
AT this he began to hedge" a little
and after clearing his throat a momen
said:
We'll, didn't mean that they hac
e sworn to it. Imeant that they had mere
e ly made false statements"
9 Young man." l said, make a cleal
breast of this. or shall instantly 'phon
|, for the police patrol, and have yol
Y locked up"
He became flurried at once, and be
gan talking at random.
How long have you been in thi
business?" l interrupted, land wha
were you previously engaged imp"
This is my first week in this work.
you mean this graft" put in.
We'll, yes, graft" he continued
"and it has been paying so we'll that
have stuck to it, although am in con
slant fear of getting into trouble"
He had confined his canyassing Il
both the middle and better class of citi
zens, and had experienced no troubl
in finding plenty of victims amonI
them. He had been in college for som
time, and being anxious to go through
I and possessing no funds had hit upol
this scheme to make money re- Didly.
He said it didn't matter what maya
zine he introduced. that the suckers
always bit on the china proposition, an,
that Mrs. Johnston was the first persol
in the city to critically investigate hi
proposition. l let him CO. with a warn
ing. on his promise that he would a
once seek honest employment.