The Crittenden record., 1905-03-31
TEMPTING A PRINTER.


lASl. ~ iAAol ~ was " nuNt bNNh AahNAS
& Henderson, for Harry Henderson was the
junior partner Afterward it was decided
that it would be better to make Nellie Fran
cs the Office boy, and, in order to avoid un'
pleasant complications, such as salary,
they made her a member of the firm,
with the understanding that she was to
be decidedly silent partner.
The firm of Francis 4 Co. transacted
a job printing business. George had
been presented with a handpress that was
too large to be regarded as mere toy, and
Harry's father had given his son several
new fonts of type.
By pooling their interests they found that
they would have a considerable stock, so
they retired to a cornet and drew up the
partnership. Mr.. lnaneis leased space in
ms stable to the new firm for % cents
week, with the express understanding that
they cleaned their type with lye instead Of
benzine.
Both boys had grown familiar with type
setting through Harry's smaller press, and
soon they not only had their printing office
established, but they were in proud pos
session Of a tin business sign, made for them
by the regular sign painter in return for 100
business cards.
The parents Of the heads of the firm we're
mildly skeptical as to the lasting powers OF
| the concern, but before the month was over
they had to admit it was strictly business.
There were internal dissensions, OF course,
as when Harry made the ridiculous rate Of
two cent, dozen for some cards to Frank
| Seymour because Gertie Seymour was a
pretty girl.
George retaliated by printing Gertie her
self another two dozen cards for nothing
at all, and after that he and not Harry car.
ried her school books home for her
| For a week business was suspended. and
| the firm was threatened Then Nellie told
| Harry Of an order that amounted to whole
dollar and quarter, and truce was patch
I'd up. the leading features Of which was The
understanding that prices were TO be fixed
by the three partners in joint session.
Nellie canyassed for orders and they final
Iy grew so prosperous that they decided to
have a letter head and call themselves a
"Printery"
They even laid in new line OF fancy cards,
and were considering the idea OF getting out
comic Valentines, wren the town election
anne and gave them higher ideals
There were no Job offices in the town,
for Hastings was not large enough to sup.
port a local paper Tae day OF the election
the mail train was wrecked and the ballots
'hat had been ordered rom the county ,eat
were burned IN the express car.
ihen the town clerk turned 10 the
prIntery The pr.u;ery promptly turned
cut the ballots.
J. Later in the afternoon Thomas Jackson
nut .n appearance. Nj jackson was the
.iche.t man in Ha-tiug. lie was running
.1r Office On an independent ticket and the
town clerk had conveniently forgotten %
provide h, ballots.
The pr.utery was ,e,y tired. From the
.cuior partner 60 tie .,lcnt one they had
hurried go get the regular job out, and now
lere was Mr. Jackson insisting that they
print another get.
Never mind making a price," he said.
I'm make il all rig with You; only hay,
,he ballots down az the town hal at !
o'clock AID zee tnat ~ one gets hem hu'
ne 60
Mr.. Jaskson had been gone only half ar
hour sadi the forms were almost complete I'd
rbenf town clcik entered.
EN- sck.0n been iefe," be demanded
| mi hdren said that lie had
Tho, rrk unioIdei crisp $40 bill 81
paid > Tor the other ballots" he .aiC
smoothly Il am willing to pay $40 Tor th,
cnes Jael .on oniei,o and you won't eve.
nave 70 p-irt tiem. .lu.t up-et that typ,
and tell him you couldn't get them ready
"a leave the money now. ] can trust q,
your honor
The three looked AZ each other. Fiiteel
dollar. Tor che priutcy 10 one DAY was {
terrible temptation. The clerk had ORDERED
two set, OF ballots. 20 that they could no
very well charge Nj jackson more than bal
that sum 'UH Ii- single set.
u wa. 100 awful temptation, but Georg'
va, equal 90 the situation. He picked NJ
.he bill
Mr.. Stevens" he called after the re-
treating iruv Better take this TIN
nnrtcry frauc.. Go. intends 20 dorgh
10y lll oi DO. patrons
Steven. turned angrly What do yol
mean" he demanded Don't YOU want ,h
money
We want .hc monry.' George retorte
:. quietly. "hui Vc want .ouc.t money
With a face red with anger steven
matched g He bill and 90 tac same time .'tu.
. lut al the boy George swiftly stepped 0
one side. and instead ufhItiirg him Steven.
arm swept over tuc table and upset tine ,a
81 he with which they had been cleaning b
.ype
With q howl he dashed out OF the plao,
or tie lye bad spilled over hi. leg. TU
Sour. later the story of Stevens bIac ,
trousers wa. well circulated about tuc y.
age.
That evening the ptin,ery made deliver
5f the ballot. 90 Mr. jackson. and after th
most exciting contest in the history Vi %
town Mr. jackson was elected.
/ The children .ent him BIN Tor - 80. ht
1eyond a note OF thanks they received .
eply for more than q month.
Then one saturday afternoon one of u
Jackson truck. drove up 90 thc door oi @.
nrint,ry and uuloaded a brand new pre-
and huge boxes of type With it was a no
tom Jackson which read:
"Mv Dear Childrcn-l lend payment 4
my bin. which you viii please receipt. II
story oi how you vith,tood Stevens tempt
ton is known 60 me. and ! know that ),
.aved the clecs.on ior me. / am sending
press, which hope will be frequently D
% my service need lot Of printing al
'of .hall zee that the printery Of fmnci. G
get. ms work. since o has proved thsmsely
10 BE- reliable Faithfully your,.
Thomas Jackson. "
For a moment nothing was heard 10 /
lfhce Then. even the silent partner let o
veil that startled ths head OF the fam
and brought MIN out TO see II another G
n I've haI heru tfuaef