Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-06-07

| Aoner answered..
General Merchandise Emporium like q
crack Of whip at the end, and I'll
have to get wholesale price on it or
We can't dicker."
'Ten cents line is our fixed rate"
Abner answered firmly, a reminiscent
shadow In his eyes, IAN won't agree
to any other"
well, you are m0ssback editor,
then. Uncle Ab-you sure are, for this
Is big job, and you will lose a chunk
Of money II you turn it down. l flg-
ured that 8 cents a line would be as
high as could go"
you'll have to figure some more"
Abner answered I'm goin' to make
livin' profit down thar or I'll 20 back
to farmin'."
$50 you refuse my onerY' Tarp said,
with fallen countenance. I'LL have
to tear the dang thing up, then. an It
Is the best idea that ever put on pa
per-"
"Ten cents line, an no less, even
ef you filed the whole local page"
was Abner's half irritated ultimat um.
well, 1t Is of, then," Tarp declared
you'll regret 1t, Uncle Alb. I'm big
advertiser an great help to a home
paper"
II remember what a help you was
the last time," Abner said to himself
as he left the store with stride that
was oil but indignant.
When Abner was gone Tarp walked
slowly back to his desk and, with q
frown Of disappointment, took several
sheets of manuscript from a drawer.
While he was reading them a clerk
came.
Erred wants to know what to do
about the case Of piece goods that the
railroad hasn't delivered yet" he said.
"Put In claim for It," Tarp an
swered crustily. 1T is the only way
to make them trace lost stuff. Say,
Dick. don't bother me any more.
When you see me down ut the front
you can ask me questions, but when
I'm at my desk like this l want to be
quiet"
Alone again, Tarp turned the pages
Of his manuscript and continued to
frown. Il can't afford to destroy as
good thing as this" he said. 1T Is
q bangup. good idea. I never saw a
better one In any paper, II do say it.
Uncle Abs fool to lose it."
Tarp lowered his head to his hand
and fell into deep reflection. Sudden
~ he started and looked up, q smile
on his face, q CLEAN In his eyes,
"Gee! he exclaimed aloud, 1T might
60 through with man that's as new
IN the newspaper business as he Is.
and II 1t did wouldn't l have a joke on
him7 Let's see; I'd only have to re-
write the first and last pages and sign
name OF some sort to the end.
could get friend over the mountain
to mail 1t to him. BY gum, III try it!
Old Alb may see through 1t. and he
may not. II he don't he's my meat.
Lean and lank as he is, I'll eat him
whole. Look out, old man. ]. L. Tarp
is on your track. You may see tho
day that you'll wish you'd taken up
that 3 cents line proposition. II
this passes muster folks will hear Of
Tarp's Dry Goods and General Mer-
chandise Emporium 500 miles away.
Gee, must get to work on It! He
mustn't smell rat, and he IS hard to
fool"
EARLY In the morning two days later
Tarp left his "Emporium" by the front
door and crossed the street to the post
Office, the mail having just arrived
from the rural routes. The postof1ce
was In the rear Of long building. the
front part of which was used as q
drug store. Going to his lock box, the
merchant took out some letters and
circulars. One Of the letters which he
read as he leaned on a cigar case near
front window ran as follows: .-