The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-02-11

I fail there" Mason concluded
with a gesture of despair.
you've told me something of
how you got into trouble" said
Mr.. Frazer, "but you have not
given me statement of your pres
ent financial condition. It's from
that l must reach my decision.
How much do you over"
Something over four thousand
dollars answered Mason, feeling
that this alone put an end to his
hopes. There is about two thous-
and dollars due you, on which you
have already given me one extern
sion of time. There Is one thous-
and dollars due Darnell, which he
advanced me to take up the notes
gave during the campaign; but"
he added, hastily, 81 am to have all
the time I require on that. Then
there Is about one thousand dol
lars additional due on stock to 9TH
er firms dealing in specialties that
you don't handle, and doctors
bill-my little girls sickness has
helped to put me in this plight
and some minor accounts that will
perhaps run to one hundred or one
hundred and fifty dollars"
Mr.. Frazer shook his head du-
biously.
How much cash have you on
hand?" he asked.
mot much over one hundred dol
lars" answered Mason, dispiritedly
II had to pay the interest on those
notes for which Darnell advanced
me the principal, you know"
How much has your trade fall
en- off,"
"I'm afraid it's almost a third"
"You didn't make much more
than fair living before, did you?"
moo"
Mason" said Mr.. Frazer, "you
can't do it in thousand years.
Your salary as alderman ends pref
ty soon now. While you're getting
back to living basis you will be
running steadily behind, and inter-
est will be piling up on your in
| debtedness. The load Is too heavy.
You might hang on for awhile, but
not for long"
Mason leaned his head on his
hand YEARLY. If he could not con-
vince this creditor, there was no
hope.
"YouIl. close me out?" he said,
although he felt it was needless to
ask the question.
"I'll buy you out"
| What"
Mason sat suddenly bolt upright.
| "I'll take your stock at its cash
wholesale value, deduct the sum
due us, pay you the balance, which
will enable you to take care of all
your outstanding Indebtedness and
still leave you a margain, If my re-
| ports as to the value of the stock
you carry are accurate, and
| then"
And then will be out of bust
ness" broke in Mason. ITS a gen.
erous offer, and suppose I'll have
to accept it, but-but I'll have
nothing to do. I'll have to begin
over again."
| Precisely" asserted Mr.. Frazer.
"And when find a capable and re-
| liable. man, who knows the hard
ware business as you know it, why
IL hire him, Mason"
"You hire him." repeated Mason,
as If he did not quite understand.
81 do. if | can get him. Men of
that kind are not so easy to find
that I am disposed to let one get
away from me. happene to have
vacancy here, Mason. 1t is a
fairly good position as assistant
manager of one of the depart
ments, and it pays $4,000 year,
with good prospect of advance
ment for the right man. I've been
looking for someone who had the
knowledge of detail and the gen.
eral experience to fill 1t acceptably.
Does the offer strike you as fair
/ one?"
"Fair!" repeated Mason. "Why,
Mr.. Frazer, never made more
than $4,000 year out of the store,
and not often that much"
That only shows that you are
worth more to use than you are to
yourself"
do you want me to resign from
the council?" asked Mason.
"No: finish your term, but don't
so back"
81 can't go back" laughed Ma
son.
That's a good thing for you,"
said Mr.. Frazer. 'Politics-espe-
cially local politics-means a sac
rifice to the business man, but
you've made your sacrifice; and
won't say you haven't done some
good, either-all that Is possible
under existing conditions. Let
someone else try his hand at it
now"