The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-01-06

nearing its close, that Teppenpaw founC
words to thank his benefactor.
''T d We had mighty lonesome time
up here for these six weeks if it hadn'
been for you, Mr.. Tanning he began
hardly knowing how to put it gratefully
enough. "It's grinding me little tt
think that | can't pay it back. But il
you should ever get as far into the back
woods as old Greene, Molly and all of US
d be mighty proud to have you make an
arm over our table,
Don't mention it, said the genia
host-the little dinners were nearly all Of
his giving, as were the drives, the theatre.
tickets and all the other relaxations. 1.-THE
pleasure has been more than half mine,
assure yeu; and Eve been sorry hundred
times that Mrs. Fanning's absence has
made it impossible for me to offer you bet
ter hospitality,
I'm sort o glad of that, said honest
John. II reckon | wouldn't cut much of
a figure in your house.
''Nonsenser' said the host. You are
making it harder and harder for me to con-
fess. This has been partly a matter Of
business with me, You belong to class
of men that our company is always trying
to get hold of-the educated farmer who
knows his business, and the value of i'm
proved, up-to.date machinery. Tell me,
don't you have three or four months in the
winter that you could give to a money
making side-line p
f'Why-yes; | reckon so, said Tep-
penpaw, wondering what was coming.
But he was honest enough to add, "Only
l don't know thing in this world but
farming
That exactly what we want you to
know, was the prompt rejoinder. ''This
year We We been trying an experiment, and
it works so well that we are arranging to
enlarge on it next winter. 1t is the plan
of sending \ few picked men-practical
farmers Ike yourself-into the field to sell
our implements. It's success. These
men are discounting our best statesmen, two
to one. lisa long way ahead, but would
you consider proposal to take a territory
for us, say in Texas, next winter !?
If Teppenpaw hesitated, it was purely
on the ground of sentiment: he was Won
dering if he could stand ii to leave Molly
and the boy Tanning misunderstood, and
flung the money weight into the scale
1--WE are paying these specials twelve
hundred dollars for the season; but in your
case
John sat up a suddenly as if the cleo
trie light current had been short eircuited
through his spine Twelve hundred dol
larsr' he gasped why, that's hun
dred month for a year,
Fauuing smiled Yes; rather more
than the farm nets you, isn't it? But we
can afford it. And it's cinoh for you.
We make good goods-you know that,
for you use them-and we can undersell
anybody on the market
Teppenpaw lost the significance Of this
last remark, being submerged in sea of
tremendous possibilities. There was a
mortgage Of six hundred dollars on the
farm half Of the twelve hundred would
ifl that, and the other half judiciously in
vested in registered Jerseys
shall | fill out the agreement p asked
Tanning, taking blank and fountain
pen from his pocket.
m just hunting for the right word to
tell you want big thing it Is for me, Mr..
Tanning. You can call it business, if you
want to; but I'm going to call it friend
ship, as long as | live.
Call it anything you like, said the
president brasquely; ''it's good stroke Of
business for US. Just sign your name un-
der mine, thereon the bottom line,
That's it. Now we Il settle the money
part Of it, and he took blank check
from another pocket and quickly filed it
out to John order. There your first
year salary, he added, tossing him the
check.
John eyes were moist when he said !:
You re buryin' me 50 deep L Il never be
able to iig out | was going to have to
renew a mortgage on the place this sum
mer, and | didn't want to. | hope to
gracious III get chance, some time,
to
Tanning put the grateful protest aside
with good -uatured brusquerie, and passed
his cigar-case
Now you are one Of Us, you must let
me drive you out to the factory tomorrow
and show you our stock, he said. ''You
can pair with one Of your colleagues for
the afternoon session.
Teppenpaw had never missed session
before, but he could not refuse the man
who had with one stroke Of the pen made
him independent of Grigsby, the Trego
money leader So he paired with the
Republican member from Gault County,
aud the inspection trip was made as pre-
figured II held sharp surprise for Tep
penpaw. The workmen in the Southern
Implement Gompany's factory were uni
formed in shapeless garments of black and
white stripes, and many Of them wore
chain leg -fetters.
Great Moses!-convicts? he gasped.
'Why, yes, said Tanning, Haven |
ever spoken of it? Isupposed everybody
in the State knew that we We're the sue
cessful bidders. They're ideal workman;
no kick on pay day, no strikes, no trouble
of any kind. And we get them at just
about half price. You Il know better what
that means when you are out in Texas
next winter competing with other factor
les.
1t was possibly no more than coinci
dence that on this particular afternoon,
while TeppenpaJ was learning the alpha
bet of implement making, the repeal bill
came up for its third reading in the House.
But it was certainly unfortunate that
member who was earnestly desirous Of do
ing the right thing should have missed
hearing the debate; the more since the
business methods of the Southern Imple
ment Company were given an airing.
But Teppenpaw did not hear it; and it
was Tanning himself who brought the sub
iect up at the dinner that evening.
''By the way, Teppenpaw, he said
casually, between the fish and the entrees,
fyT l. &c NV Gfa