The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-13
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ssMy dear Mir. Lampirthy!' he cried, swhatever do you mean? Surely you are joking"
 T am in earnest Fifty per cent on the old price-those are our terms"
 I'm afraid. then, we shall not be able to do business Hughes and Allen have wanted to supply us for some years Surely 1t was waste of time to come to me with such wild propo- sition as this"
 Not at all" replied MT. LAmpirthy quietly. I'm afraid you won't get much better terms from Hughes and Allen"
 what do you meanY' exclaimed Mir. Mallard.
 T have a controlling interest in their business as well.'
 well. there are plenty of other man. ufacturers."
 ..oh. yes. plenty. but I'm afraid you will find their terms all about the same"
 MT. Mallard's jaw dropped. and his face grew pale. The interview. which hitherto had seemed like a ludicrous waste of time, had suddenly assumed a more serious aspect Then he suddenly rose to his feet, and ieant across the desk. A pile of congratulatory letters went flying to the floor.
 What on earth do you meany he
 
 aI mean" Mir Lampirthy replied calmly, that the Paper Combine is already an accomplished fact. The. paper trade of the world is practically in my hands"
 ''Great heavensr' gasped Mfr. Mallard! and then he sank back in his chair, and mopped his face with his handkerchief. Mir. Lampirthy smiled.
 T can. of course, ask what price Iilke.'' he said, after a pause.
 MT. Mallard regained his composures and his keen business mind reasserted itself
 You want profits" he said calmly. '.want to sell your paper. I suppose. No one will buy on those terms"
 T have. as you know, plenty of money" Mir. Lampirthy replied. eff I lost every penny I have put into the business, I should till have enough for all my wants But have a proposal to make to you, Mir. Mallard. Do you re- member the details which I gave you just now--my scheme for the Ideal paperg
 "Yes." said MT. MalIard angrily And of all the rubbish--''
 Wait a moment" interrupted Mir. Lampirthy. T think if you study the details well. you will see that a paper conducted on those lines might be a good and successful paper. I hope, for your own sake. that you will be able to look at the scheme in that light. for, if you agree to run the Daily Bio graph on those lines. will let you have your paper at a price which will cost you five per cent, less than you are paying now"
 sTnpossibIei" said Mir. Mallard. ssRidiculous. No newspaper could be run on those lines. absolutely re- fuse"
 aThen I'm afraid you will have to pay fifty per cent more than you are paying at present"
 "This is robberyr' shouted Mir. Nal lard, ssblackmai1l refuse to be coercedi The Press is free in this country!'
 .Yes but unfortunately the paper 1t is printed on is not. No newspaper can be run at all if paper advances fifty per cent. I believe you said so your self"
 ''Tu start my own mills"
 "Indeed?" MT. Lampirthy queried sar- castically And stop the issue of your newspaper till the mills are erected?"
 No; buy your paper at loss"
 @Oh, mo-" said Mir. Lampirthy. T have provided for that If you set up mills, you shan't have any of my paper at all--at any price. Besides have purchased the patents of all the best machinery in the trade. I can assure you that I have overlooked nothing. I am used to big jebs of this sort"
 Why have you picked us out for this mad scheme?' cried Mir. Mallard. His cheeks were flushed, and the veins stood out on his forehead.
 You are not the only one. am go- ing to purify the Press of this country. You can take 1t as a compliment that have come to you first. If you're wise. you'll make the most of that
 'Tll expose the whole business-to- morrow. I'll show you, MT. Lampirthy what the power of the Press is like'' He stretched out his hand to a bell