River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-11-20

I'm a poor man, Juuse O..
Wright began slowly. Il couldn't re-
fuse to consider an Offer"
He got no further, 70. Kendall ex-
claimed:
That's what / thought"
wait minute, Wright asked him,
lifting his hand in warning that he
had not finished. ''You interrupted me
before l was through. What / say is
this: / couldn't refuse to consider an
offer from a proper quarter"
What does the source matter to
you?" Kendall inquired. You're hui
man. You want money as bad as any
of u.s."
Before replying, Wright's gaze rest
ed for an instant on the door behind
which his hearts happiness waited
Her words came to him, strengthening
him to meet the tempter: Remember,
dear, in whatever you do, I'm with you.
May my love and my confidence sup
port you ever"
Il may want money-need it-worse
than any of you" he confessed. But
it must come only one way-honestly."
"Nothin' dishonest bout sellin' pa
per, is there?" growled Kerr.
81 can't tell in this case until l
hear what Judge Gilbert's offer is f"
TITS simply this: l have some eli
ents who wish to purchase your pa
per-"
"Mr. Kerr and Mr.. Kendall, I sup
pose"
Does it make any difference to
your"
cit may to Belmont"
Whats Belmont got to do with ii? 2"
asked Kerr.
"A newspaper can't change hands
lorted impatiently.
"You know / want to be open and
above board with you, Mr.. Wright"
soothed Gilbert $50 I'll tell you that
Mr.. Kendall and Mr. Kerr are inter
ested in this offer. 1 know the papers
mortgaged. Whatll you sell for, the
purchasers to assume the mortgage
and all other debts, and possession
to be given this afternoon"
Wright merely looked at him and
shook his head. What he thought he
almost hated to say. 1t hurt him to
think that they could believe he would
even listen to such proposition.
"Then," continued Gilbert, another
basis on which to deal would give you
nominal control until after election,
but my clients would not expect the
paper to be so vehement in it's denun-
Citations in the next few days"
Judge Gilbert" the editor replied
quietly, but with great earnestness,
that's an offer I don't thank you for.
These men haven't enough money to
buy my paper"
"You bought the paper" snarled
Kerr in an ugly manner.
"Yes," came the answer right back
at him, 'but you want to buy my self
respect"
The two men glared at each other,
but the boss did not deny the asser-
ton The elder man was beginning
to rage inwardly. SO accustomed had
he become to the exercise Of auto
cratic power in Belmont that he could
not reconcile himself to being thwart-
ed especially when success was so
vital to him.
There's a good profit in it for you,
was the conciliatory remark of Judge
Gilbert.
"In dollars and cents, perhaps" adj
mitted Wright, 'but there are some
things that have a greater value than
mere money; peace of mind, for in
stance, and the deserved respect of
the community, and honor. 1 can't
sell out the people who are depending
on me, the people of Belmont"
The men across the table looked at
him as if they thought him crazy.
They knew he had foolish ideas, but
they had not dreamed he would let
such an opportunity slip through his
fingers. He was the owner of a news
paper that was losing money every
day, and they had as much as asked
him to name his own figure for mis-
property. They could not understand
how honor was part of the transaction
in the sale of newspaper, even III the
last days of strong fight against the
organization. What should he care
about the respect Of the community
when he had money enough to take
him out of that community and keep
him comfortable until he was ready
to get another paper somewhere else
to exploit his insane ideas of civic
righteousness?
CTO BE CONTINUED)