The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-05-03
LOOKING
FOR MICA
BY M. QUAD
Copyright. 1910, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

| was Moses lkeStelH, WIN uau JUST
failed In the clothing bsslness. He
had figured TO fail at a profit, but there
bad been hitch In his calculations,
and he was about done for.
There was Jim Greene. newspaper
man. That is, be had been employed
on various newspapers without credit
to them or him.
There was Dick Grahame. a shyster
lawyer, who had been disbarred and
| was thinking II he should turn lee
turer and expose the rest OF the pro-
fession.
These three mcn were eating cheap
dinners. Between mouthfuls they sized
each other up. None OF the three
sized another up as an honest man.
and this fact warmed them to each
other. The meal had been almost fin
ished, however, before Mr.. Jkestein
ventured to observe;
Gentlemen. this is hard world.
"It is" replied Mr.. Greene.
mo one can be an honest man any
more" said Mr.. Ikesteln.
IF he tries to be honest be fails and
has to pay % cents on the dollar" con-
tinued the speaker.
Gentlemen, we three are honest
men. We must have the interests OF
our country more at heart. We must
90 out In to the park and sit down on
a bench and talk in confidence. Be
!. cause of my clothing business you
must not distrust me. Because of your
business I must not distrust you"
The result OF their talk was an I'M
derstanding, and the result of the I'M
Outstanding was the organizing of the
Great Western Mica company. Mr..
Greene could write luridly, and he
was to manage the advertising.
The public caught on to the ads.
slowly. 1t was used to gold and sill
yer mine ads, but this was a mica
mine, and 1t didn't guarantee to pay
over so per cent dividends for the
first twelve months.
Now and then a minister or widow
sent in a poor SIS for investment, and
thus the office rent was paid, but none
of the trio bought himself an auto.
1--WE should have promised 100 per
cent dividends" growled Mr.. Ikestein
eve should have made 1t $780," add.
ed Mr. Greene.
"Two hundred at the very least"
announced Mr.. Grahame.
But still we may add to the pros
perity OF the country by being not too
honest continued Mr.. Ikestein as he
sawed away at his steak. Gentle
men. into the office this afternoon
there came a sucker he was good to
look upon. In his hair there was hay.
seed. Among his whiskers were long
straws. He was the innocent OF the
valley"
"And he wanted stock" was asked
Better than that For stock he
cared not. For the land he cared o
great deal Having purchased three
more cows, he must have more land
for pasture. Seer
'sBut that land is n mountain peakg
exclaimed MFR. Grahnme.
$50 I did not explain, but so the in
nocent man from the valley seemed
to know. He said that the higher uE
mountain he could get his cowu the
higher prices be could get for his mill
and butter"
"And he will buy tit"
eff the price is right. Gentlemen
IL is up to us. to think. Have we beer
too honest2 If not, then why havu We
not met with prosperity? A too homes
man has too little to offer the public
We have offered but 30 per cent divi
dends."
"But the savings banks offer only
per cent" protested Greene, who wal
responsible for putting the mica divi
dends so low.
"It is true, but a savings bank II
not a mica mine. 1t has a granite
; building. with bronze hinges on thu
front doors. II has stained glass win
dows. it has a president who rides II
an automobile. 1t does not permit thu
faker to come in and sell suspender
| and lead pencils. All. savings banl
, is different--very different"
"But about the suckerT'
"He will take that COW pasture a
$500 and let us out. am to let hin
,, know tomorrow"
THAT'S FIVE hundred apiece" salt
Greene.
| And In lump" added Grahame.
? "And we can take the money ana
D advertise the Arctic Peach company
e with dividends at 125. This time W
must not be too honest. The publ
loves him not 1t sends him too few
checks. 1t is then agreed that tn
: sucker shall have this mountain peal
cow pasture"
The sucker called next day, and tn
deal was closed. The money was d
vided, and the three went their sepa
rate ways II was a year later whei
Mr.. Greene met Mr. Ikestein on tn
street
"You see--you seer shouted the la
ter as he raised his hand skyward.
| 'T see whatT'
you see the too honest men. 70
kee only 80 per cent dividends. 70
see we make nothing"
"oh. yes, / see"
"And you see the sucker. You sc
the COW pasture You see we sell outl
| yes, see all that"
| But you don't ser. you can't se'
you will never see. thai IL was silve
| mine was sold for 81, 500 and the In