Fergus County Democrat., 1913-10-07
TOM STOUT IN
THE WHO'S Who
(Continued from page one.)

Continued from page one.)
til time about twelve years ago when
he became seized, as the legal phrase
runs, with a certain sum of ready cash.
Why Tom Chose Billings.
Cash was the most unready thing,
from Toms viewpoint, of which New
London boasted; but he secured GER
tain sum-the profits from two years
of teaching school and other manual
labor. Don't laugh now! IT. is manual
labor to teach school in Missouri.
Those big boys are mighty hard to
maui.
Anyhow, Tom had in his jeans GER
tain sum of ready cash. He had-not
in his jeans, but in his mind-a we'll
defined desire to go away from New
London-tO migrate-to step fearless
ly out into the world and seek new
fields for certain deeds of high emprise
he had under consideration, one OF
which was the getting of more than
twenty-five dollars a month for teach
ing school.
He had no definite idea of where
he wanted to go, but he had a most
definite and particular idea that he
was going; so he counted his money
carefully, secured few. railroad fold
ers, read the various excellencies of
the trains that ran nOrthward and
westward, and consulted the local
ticket agent, who had been his friend
from boyhoOd days.
II desire to 60 somewhere" Tom
said.
"Where?" asked the agent.
"Oh dunno; want to go about thir-
n-dollars-and-forty-c worth"
(Which direction?"
"It's immaterial to me. Pick me out
some good place that is thirty-seven-
forty from here"
The agent pondered, and consulted
schedules.
II can sell you to Boise, Idaho," he
said, "for the whole thirty-seven-forty,
or can land you in Billings, Montana,
for thirty-four-eighty."
Gimme Billings" said Tom. Il may
want to eat"
Thus, as previously remarked, do
we discover on what small change
does destiny hang! Tom went to Bill
AIA6S, JAClC Will dUOuJ OlC
dollar cash in hand, one suit of Clothes
gait like cotton-chopper, and a
good disposition. He was happy, care
free. and announced to Billings that
he had come to stay. This determina-
tion created no particular consterna-
tion in Billings, where people arrive
almost every day; and Tom, after
using his dollar prudently, was forced
to look about for sustenance.
He accepted position mixing ce-
ment for local contractor, beginning
work at the unreasonable hour of
seven a. m. He lasted until fourteen
minutes to ten. at which time the con-
tractor told him, with a note of deep
regret in his voice. that he was not
temperamentally fitted for cement mix
ing; and, rather than spoil a good
hobo, he would not take the RESPONSE
bilit yof keeping him there and max
ing mediocre cement mixer of him.
Tom soon got job on a newspaper
and pursued journalism assiduously,
but rarely caught up with it for long.
enough period to get much increment
therefrom. After time he went on
the Billings Gazette.
Tom was there for about a year.
Then the Fergus County Argus man
over at Lewistown, wired to E. H.
Becker, of the Gazette. for a man to
come out and help him on the Argus.
Maybe Becker wanted to unload Tom
and maybe he did not. Anyhow, he
did good thing for Tom, who went
out and took the Job.
Presently there came litigation over
the paper run by Jeffy Johns. Tom
got hold of it, backed by friend, and
changed the name of the paper to the
Fergus County Democrat which 1t still
is, and which he still edits-between
times, of course, now that he is in
congress.
Tom made hit In LewistOwn, mar
ried the prettiest girl in the place,
got into Democratic politics, ran for
congress and won. He had one term
In the Montana state senate before
that.
He is as good mixer as Montana
has-and that is saying great deal
an affah'e. genial, agreeable man. who
makes friends everywhere. and has q
lot of solid ability to back his faculty
for getting on terms with all classes.
His paper is good paper and he is
prosperous and popular.
But suppose he had recklessly spent
that two-sixty and had gone to Boise
as have said, the chances are he
would not be in congress at all.
Household Notes.
Fresh fish have eyes bright and full,
g,lis red and fins that stand up, and
the flesh is firm to the touch.
Se