The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-06-12
luce the farmers and Inhabitants of

luce the farmers and inhabitants OF
minor villages around Parkville to be-
come patrons. Now many of these
lad been at shows of the kind in 9TH
er and larger towns. They were edu-
:ated and critical as to the pictures.
As matter Of fact, the machine
Barnes operated was old and defec-
/ tive. The apparatus fiickered, the
reels worked badly, there were many
break downs and they could afford to
lease only two old films; and when
the month ended they came out bare
ly even.
Il see the trouble" explained
Barnes-"we're not up to date. We
have either got to get first-class out
fit or close shop"
Where will we get it," PROFOUND
ed Frank. 81 have a bare $50 in the
bank.
Rather disconsolately they kept the
show going, but pretty we'll convinced
that it. would run out. Then one
evening circumstances, accident, fate.
changed the whole current OF events.
1t was market day, and a good many
farmers had remained in Parkville to
take in the movies. Just as the first
series of films was reeling off, a man
came to the entrance. He was a
neighboring storekeeper, bareheaded.
and in hurry.
Il just got message over the tel
| ephone from the Bartlett farm, about
two miles out Of town., he advised
Frank His haystacks are all on fire,
and the house is threatened. His hired
man thinks he is in the show here.
"All right" replied Frank. Then
he hurried into the iron booth.
Within the space of two minutes he
had prepared plate for Barnes to
slip across the lens of the machine.
The showing film was retired. and
there suddenly flashed across the
screen the sentence:
III Farmer Bartlett is in the audi
ence, hurry home at once-haystack
on fire"
Whats that" cried out the indi.
vidual named, and there was a mo
mentary hustle. Not only Bartlett
himself, but his family and several OF
his neighbors hurried from the show
to their teams hitched outside. Then
as the exhibition film was replaced.
the incident was soon forgotten by
the audience.
1t was the following afternoon, and
the two partners were rather desper'
ately discussing their situation and
prospects when Farmer Bartlett en-
tered at the doorway of the photo
playhouse.
well, my friends" he exclaimed.
shaking hands with them heartily,
you flashed that message to me last
night just in the nick of time, and
did big thing for me-
How was that?" inquired Frank
"Why, my haystacks had caught
fire, with only my crippled hired man
about the place. He soon gave up
trying what few pals Of water could
do, and phoned here. We got to the
farm just in time to put out the fire
in the barn and scatter the blazing
haystacks. In ten minutes more, barns,
house and all would have been in
ashes. Now then, what can do for
your"
1t became apparent, after a very
brief talk, that their grateful and in
terested friend could finance them,
and this he did. Not only was a new
and acceptable outfit put in at the
Palace, but two new places were start
ed in other towns.
The tide of fortune seemed to turn
all at once. In a year the ambitious
partners were sailing smoothly. in two
the ambitious Frank Dolby led the
loveliest girl in Parkville to the
hymeneal altar-Etta Barnes.
Copyright. 1913. by w. G. Chapman.)