Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1913-10-16
The Better Man
BY M. QUAD
Copyright. 1913. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
BY M. QUAD


1t was in this way. 1t was an old
building at the railroad depot. and
Jacob bought butter and eggs of the
farmers for price and shipped them
to the city and sold them for higher
one. He mnde as much as cents a
dozen on eggs and 6 cents a pound on
butter. Jacob Arson had always said
| that he wanted TO be Il business man
when he grew up, and here he was
He had a place. and he had sign and
letterheads and cards. He did 81 worth
of advertising IN the country papers,
and the whole town congratulated him
on his business enterprise. Jacob had
always patted himself on the back as
some pumpkins, and now he became
very chesty. One day when he had
shipped enough butter and eggs to re-
turn him profit of So he went home
with his head held so high that 1t was
two minutes before he saw his wife.
81 am glad business is so good" she
said, "but there are other things need
ed in the city besides butter and eggs
You have the room to store them and
the time to handle them, and why not
add potatoes, beans, turnips and other
things?"
"This thing was my idea in the first
place. wasn't it?" he half demanded
in a voice not at all pleasant.
"Of course
"Well. | believe ! have the gump-
ton to carry it through to success
without advice from anybody
'But 1t was suggestion. Jacob"
"Yes, | get lots of them and would
make a failure in week if needed
them. Leave business to men. Mary"
THAT is to say that the women have
no brains?"
"There isn't one in a hundred that
can take care of herself when she be-
comes a widow
There was no further talk of bust
ness between husband wife, but In her
earnestness of belief the wife did a
rather foolish thing that caused some
neighbor now and then to say:
Jake. that wife of yours has some
smart IDEAS"
"Oh. | dunno"
"She was telling my wife the other
day that you could handle more stuff
just as well as not and thus increase
your income"
And do you think so yourselfT
"Why, I've thought it over and feel.
sure you could"
And Jacob went home to dinner to
say to is wife:
so you are still determined to med
die with my business. are you:"
II have said to two or three women
that | thought you could increase It,"
SHOULD there be separation you
would probably 70 into the commits
sion business yourself?"
81 might
"And show me how to make a small
fortune?"
That might come too"
Foolish talk, of course. but every day
Reno produces something just as fool
Ssh. 1t was bone that was gnawed
1T until separation finally came.
Ten days after Mrs. Arson went
home to her mother Dame Fortune
smiled on her. relative died and left
her $1,000. Her husband said to every
body that he was glad Of her luck and
It the same time sorry for the likeli
hood that she would lose every dollar |
IF it In some wildcat investment.
Got ideas and no experience. you
Know" he added In pntronizing way. |
Before the wife had decided Just !
he town that 1t would be something |
oolish. whatever 1t was. One day she |
vent to the city. and all the knowing
mes whispered. Millinery
Mrs Arson didn't go to the shop |
ling districts nor enter any of the
Wholesale houses on Broadway. On the
ontrary. a carriage took her to the
Ioduce commissions district. and she I
made many inquiries and transacted
considerable business Her husband
ad never even seen the merchant he
llipped to. and a few inquiries proved
hat he had poor standing as to char
cter and amount of business done
Not II word Of explanation when Mrs
IBson arrived home. The villagers
ad selected the store she would rent
1r her stock. but she passed II by.
opposite her husbands place of bust
ess was an empty building much lar
err than his quarters. When the vii
ayers came to know that 1t had been
iken on a Eve years lease they al
lost shouted out:
"Is Mrs. Arson crazy? What To-
ation for millinery storew
While the building was being put In
bape Mrs. Arson drove about the
,untry for distance of six or seven
lilies in every direction and. had talk
18th farmers and their wives. She
nve them information that astonished
lem. She signed contracts with many
them that made them see lots Of
loney ahead.
'She Is drumming up trade for her
Millinery store" was the general YER
let. and some went so far as to say
iat she was hustler. One morning
sign painter began work, and at the