Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-05-02
BILL BRADSHAW BUYS
THIRD LIBERTY B0HDs
BY ANNA STOKES.

The little town OF Cedaryille was
not wealthy, Just an ordinary country
town, but with lots Of patriotism,
which dubbed forth with energy at
the approaching sale of Liberty Bonds,
which marked the entrance OF the
United States into the world war.
Bill Bradshaw looked at all the
preparations with a smile. He did
not intend to buy Liberty Bonds. That
$4,000 lying SO snugly in the bank
should not be disturbed. He guessed
he was loyal enough without buyins
bonds.
Just before the sale of bonds for the
Third Liberty Loan started Miss Ames,
the compositor in the little country
print shop, said to Bill, They'll make
You buy some bonds this time, won't
they, Bill?'
Not me; | won't invest a dollar"
Bet you 81 that you buy at least
one bond before this sale is over" said
the editor. rubbing a grimy finger re-
flectively W his long nose.
Take the bet!" snapped Bill.
Bill left the office, and Mr.. Rich, the
editor, got in communication with Nc
Namara, the head Of the selling COM
mittee. AS they talked low, the young
lady in the bank could not hear the
conversation.
A week after the campaign opened
Bill Bradshaw had bought no bonds.
1t was well on into the third week
when Mr.. Rich met Mr.. Mcnamara
coming to his office.
Hello, Mae. Any news from friend
Bill?"
Eyes and no. Fact is I called on
him last night, and I told him | un.
derstood that he had repeatedly re.
fused to buy bonds. Now | was re
CURED by the government to fill on
this card. Then I pulled my yellow
card on him and began to ask Ques
tons"
Mcnamara paused. Rich waited
then asked: what then?"
His wife said: Bill, you'd bette
buy bonds than to let that 80 TO the
government"
did he?" asked Rich.
mo, not then, but he asked me no
to send the card until tonight, which
OF course, l agreed to. l think he'll
see the light"
Mcnamara went down the street
while Rich went into his office with
smile on. Late that afternoon, .
Rich went by the bank to the pos
office, Mr.. Mcnamara called him il
bill bought a thousand dollars
worth Of bonds" he said with a broa
grin.
Scared, was he?" asked Rich.
pretty badly ratified"
1t was fully two weeks before Drat
shaw called at the Criterion offic.
and when he did he walked up to tn
desk and, laying down 81, said:
II I'm a man Of my word. I bougl
bonds, for | considered them a goc
investment. One does not lose an
thing by such an investment, and
has the satisfaction Of helping h
government"
This was said in a very patriot
way, but Miss Ames, who was shar
of tongue and not at all particult
about peoples feelings, said: "Bi
Bradshaw, I bet they pulled a yello
card on YOU"
II don't know what color the pesl
thing was" admitted Bill. But
one Of them cards would go to Tnc
Sam, with them questions filled o.
like Mac wanted to, I'd be arrested #
a pro-German. The whole trouble
Mac knows to a cent just how mus
money I have, and there's no getti
round It,"
Bill remained and was unmerciful
roasted by the sharp.tongned your
woman. but for all that Bill Bradsha
, was the only man In Cedarville wi
had a yellow card pulled IN him.
After he left Miss Ames turnt
upon her boss.
mi. Rich, did you tell McNama,
, to 60 after Bradshaw"
, mo; l told Mcnamara what he sa
, about not buying bonds. and that
had q bet with him on the result. b
no stakes were up--it was Just a VI
bal bet--but a yellow card wou,
bring him quicker than anything"
And 80 It came about that B
Bradshaw displays In his window
Flag Of Honor" and tells all h
%neighbors what a good investment
considers Liberty Bonds.