The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-09-06
SHORT STORY OF A LOCAL MAN

SHORT STORY OF A LOCAL MAN
Wesley Lantis, who for four and
half years presided over the limo
type at the Republican office, left
Wednesday morning for San Fran
cisco, intending to enter a nautical
school, preparatory to entering the
navy. He has already served four
wears on Uncle Sans ships, and
thinks that il he can have a few
weeks to study navigation he can
render pretty good service and turn
his previous training to account.
Mr.. Lantis' experience at Black
foot furnishes an interesting bit OF
story, and now that he is gone he
might forgive We editor for mention
ing a few of the high points. He was
in San Francisco and one day in
January 1914 he called at the office
of the linotype company to see II
there was situation in sight. They
told him of one at Blackfoot, Idaho,
a man named Trego wanted an oper-
ator, who would stay long time.
Lantis decided to take the job and
wired acceptance, saying he would
start that night If the place was still
open. Trego wired that it was and he
started. He paid his own fare to
Blackfoot-note that, and he always
paid his bills after. he got here.
Arrived in Blackfoot he looked
around and pronounced 1t punk old
town, and promised himself that he
would only stay long enough to save
up a hundred dollars. But the Of
flee he worked in was little diff
erent; everybody minded his own at
fairs. and there was no lOafing, and
the town gang did not cOngregate In
the office at nights to discuss the
town clock and to regulate the gov
eminent, as is usual in printing Of
fees. When Lantis remarked about
that, he was told there was reason
and as he noted the fireworks thru
all that year he agreed that things
were a little different.
When Lantis had saved a hundred
dollars he concluded he would stay
with the job till he had another
hundred, and by the time he had
ltwo-hundred saved, he had become
interested, and kept staying. When
he got to itching to own a suburban
home, the boss helped him finl one
and Lantis bought on the installment
plan the boss encouraged him to
buy. When it was time to buy
horse, Lantis hestiated between buy
| ing small scrub for small price
or a better one and go in debt an
other hundred copeks. The boss
offered to sign note with him and
get the better horse. The owner OF
the horse was an old-timer and when
Lantis told him how much he could
pay down, and that Trego would sign
with him for the other hundred, this
old-timer' shook his head and said,
"Is Trego good for $100?" Lantis
replied that Trego lived in a good
house, and had some farms and other
stuff. The old-timer shook his head
again and said, Eyes, but they tell
me he is mortgaged for all he is
worth and has gone thru with about
everything" Lantis suggested that
he try selling the note at the bank
before giving up the animal, and
after visiting the bank the man said
he would take the note. 1t was due
in six months, and the day the six
months was out, Lantis walked in
and displayed the cancelled note.
Lantis owed considerable money on
the suburban farm, but as each note
fell due he bought it back. He took
good care of the machinery in the
Republican office and he took good
care of each acre in his farm.
Lantis and the boss did not al
ways see things just alike, but If it
was matter of mutual concern they
would sit down and talk across the
table till they agreed. Lantis was
always loyal to the man he worked
for. He never received any less on
pay day than he was expecting, and
If he received more, he would walk
into the boss sanctum to- see If there
was any mistake about it, and he
would be informed that it was pre-
meditated, whreupon they would ex-
change smiles and work on.
But Trego is not the only one who
recognizes a good thing when it is
around for while. Mrs. Lantis does
too. She was BlackfoOt girl.
Baby Lantis is a Blackfoot boy.
Lantis has a good deal to fight for,
and he has arranged to be gone from
home till after the war is over if our
Uncle Samuel wants him. When he
comes back there will be aplace for
him at the old stand, and his star
in the office window will be the
second one, Kutnewsky being the