Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-11-13

I'm a poor man. Judge Cnb<f4.'
Wrig1- began slowly 7 couldn't re-
fuse to consider an offer"
He got no further, for Kendall ex-
claimed:
That's what I thought"
WYATT minute, Wright asked him,
lifting his hand in warning that he
had not finished. You interrupted re
before I was through What say is
this: l couldn't refuse to consider an
offer from proper quarter"
What does the source matter to
you?" Kendall inquired. You're hu,
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 te:npter: Remember,
dear, in whatever you do, I'm with you.
May my love and my confidence sup
port you ever
i 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.
| Il can't tell in this case until 1
hear what Judge Gilbert's offer Is
| Its simply this: l have some eli
ents who wish to purchase your pa
per"
MIR. Kerr and Mr.. Kendall, I sup
pose"
Does it make any difference to
you?"
ut may to Belmont"
Whats Belmont got to do with it ?"
asked Kerr.
"A newspaper can't change hands
! like a stock Of groceries, Wright re
I lOrted impatiently.
You know I want to be open and
above board with you, Mr. Wright,
! soothed Gilbert. so I'll tell you that
Mr. Kendall and Mr. Kerr are inter
ested in this offer. I 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. It hurt him to
think that they could believe he would
| even listen to such a 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 its 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.
I'm dollars and cents. perhaps" ad-
mitted Wright, but there are some.
things that have greater value than
mere money; peace of mind, for in
stance, and the deserved respect of
| the community, and honor. / 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 had not dreamed he would let
such an opportunity slip through his
| fingers. He was the owner of news
paper that was losing money every
| day, and they had as much as asked
| him to name his own figure for IlIa
property. They could not understand
| how honor was part of the transaction
| in the sale of a newspaper, even in the
| last days of a 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
! - get another paper somewhere else
to exploit his insane ideas of civic
righteousness?
(TO BE CONTINUED