Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1917-01-25
THE SOLICITOR
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

erulUuNu NtiBei put upNh ihS SiNP
pals and turned around.
Carrie, breathless and flushed from
running, put her hand to her throat
"Say dad, you're awful deaf I've
been calm and calm"
Hey? Wen, what is 1t? Cribbses
want to borrow the mare again? Tell
them to walk to town. They famed
her last time"
"No, dad, 1t amt Crlbbses after the
mare. It's Sam Harms. He's back from
the city and he's solicitin'."
"What7"
Hes solicitin'."
"Whats that? After somethin'?"
"Well. sort of. You come on down
TO the house, won't you, and talk 10
Sam7 It's about a new buildin' in
town. He's all dressed up and sittin'
on the front porch. Hurry up an
come on, dad
"All right, I'll be down"
"When did you come back to town,
SamT Carrie, in her Bingham dress,
with white collar and cuffs and a
dress-up apron, was very pretty. Her
hair, c0rn-colored and wavy, touched
Off complexion of roses and cream
that reminded Sam of the big bisque
dolls in the city windows. Her eyes,
with their long, dark lashes, were big
Ind very deep gray.
II came back last Tuesday. I'm rum
ming the campaign"
Campaign! Oh, are you trying to
be elected?"
Sam laughed. mo, it's not politics.
I'm an organizer. That's man who
takes charge Of things and makes
things come that nobody else will
bother with. When town wants n
new library or hospital or chamber of
commerce building they send for me.
Then | roll up my sleeves and go to
work. The old town here wants a
library so that's why came back, to
get them what they wanted. Oh I'm
the man that put the & in get, all
right We're after fifty thousand dol
lars"
Carries eyes were big. SIS that
what you're solicitin' for?'
"YeS."
"Hc won't give much
"You just wait and see. I'm after
a hundred dollars"
"Why, he won't give me ana ma
enough money for new hat"
"But won't 1t be fine to have q
library In town."
al wouldn't know what to do with
It,"
"Why get books aud read them
Magazines, too; aud all sorts of things
A pretty girl Ike you wants to know
lot, Carrie
II know enough. | can bake tn,
county"
''All right Maybe you can, but III
bet YOU don't know who Shakespeare
contemporaries WERE
"What did you say?" She asked he
wildercd. ooh. here's dad now"
Sam began instantly. 81 came to
get your subscription 10 the new
library Mr. Weigcl You've heard
about It, | suppose Let me see, we've
put you down for hundred dollars"
WHAT" cried The old farmer. "Tn
be hamjuggcd IL | will!' He pushed
back his chair, crossed his knees and
fumbled awkwardly for his pipe.
whats the dnrned thing for?'
"a library for the county. Books,
YOU know Books" And then Sam
gave dissertation ON the blessings
Of u library in a tone calculated 10
wHken the mummies in Egypt
And ne got the hundred
"Goodhy, sam" said Carrie, putting
her hand to her smooth snowy throat.
"Goodby, Carrie" said Sam, and
then in a tone which Egyptian mum
mics could never have heard he leaned
forward aud said, "I'ye learned to
know what beauty is since I've been
away Carrie, ana you're the lovelieSt
thing I've seen in thut line ever" He
pressed her hand genuy--aud was
gone.
A year passed Ferdinand Weigel
was going for the COWS one day when
Carrie called, pad. oh Dad"
The old man turned Hey? Wen,
what is it? Crlbb~cs want to"
NO, it isn't the Cribbses. dad. It's
Sam Harms lie wants TO see you"
Wants me To build another library.
does he? Well tell him to 20 and
talk to the chickens. I'm busy. What's
ne want?'
Il don't know" Carrie smiled and
dtmplcd "Ilc said to tell you he's
soliciting" Carrie had picked up on
her G's since reading books from the
library and she had found out lust
whit "Shapesprarc's contemporaries"
meant
At the head of the hin Carrie and
her father met sam Who came up
energetic irresponsible, smiling. The
old man had tu acknowledge that his
visitor was splendid looking, hut nov
crthclrSS he retained his Scowl
How do YOU do, Mr.. Wggel?" said
Sam pleasantly holding out his hand.
How do?' responded Ferdinand.
suSpiciously What do you want
nov? Soieltiu again Carrie says"