The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1919-06-18
The VENEER OF THE YEARS
BY WALTER CREEP.

l tne SeCOHu year
And so, the next day he took up
his duties as bookkeeper for the
Smelling Company. At first he
found the work slightly difficult ow-
ing to the intricate arrangement OF
the account books. but because OF
his thorough knowledge OF the
work and his natural aptitude, he
soon surmounted his difficulties and
became perfectly familiar with the
system. He often spent hours af-
ter his regular days work was end
ed puzzling over some little detail
that would help him to more fully
understand his work. This studi-
Gus application soon attracted the
attention of the proprietor who in
turn spoke of it to the owners Of
the plant, and as a consequence
Merlins name was placed first on
the list of those to be promoted at
the end of the year. This was
highly pleasing to him and caused
him to take even a greater interest
in his work than he had hitherto
fore manifested
But as the days wore on he did
not forget the articles on Smith
willie he had promised his employer
TO write. He wanted revenge-his
20 hiG Unnn1nn
spirit clamoured for it-revenge on
Smithville. The place where he,
lone and friendless had been buffet
ed by rough men, abused, and even
beaten. The town was "A blot on
the face of the earth, and should 1t
grow? should it enjoy greater pros
perity and allow its wicked inhahi-
tants more money to indulge their
vile cravings So ftt --s TIC dit nUt! il
he could help it, He could not take
revenge on the barkeeper for he
was dead-beaten to death by his
drink crazed patrons. Merlin did
not regret his death. The only
qualm of conscience he felt in pre-
pairing his denunciatiCn of Smith
vile was the fact that it would ruin
the meager business of the old
boarding house keeper. But he
VINO links his fate with evil. must
suffer with evil its damnation and
he could not forego writing a word
on his former hosts account. If he
did not wish to share in the towns
loss let him leave it.
Late into the night he would
write and search the dictionary, al.
tarrately, trying to find some words
that would competently express his
contempt for the town from which
he had Juat come But he failed.
Nevertheless, his articles were
crowded so full Of disgusting facts
and ringing sentences, that, ii a
prospective settler CHANGED to see
them and needed them, he would be
certain to steer clear Of Smithville.
When they were completed he typed
them on the company's typewriter
and prepared them for publication.
The local editor accepted them
gladly and printed the first of the
series, "A Day in our Rival city"
in the Sunday edition. 1t proved
so popular that Benson City Com
mercial Club ordered a reprint of
thousand copies to be scattered oy-
er the City and sent to people in
the East who were looking West
ward for homes. a home in
Smithville-Why not?" The Sc
cond article, proved equally as sue
cessful and was sent East in bun
dies of printed slips.
The response to these was in
Simultaneous, thousands of letters Of
inquiry poured into the Newspaper
Office and hundreds of new sub
scribers were added to the list. The
real estate men get luJy, prepared
booklets descrip;iys of the city and
for nearly TO Iponths the post
office depar ment was taxed to its
fullest capacity to handle the en-
ormous business
BY fall settlers had begun to ar
rive; hundreds and hundreds came,
and hotels were crowded SO that
they could not accommodate them all
These newcomers almost invaribly
remained, purchased sections of
land and built homes in Benson CT
ty and became citizens of the town
The prices of real estate scared
higher and higher. New strikes of
mines were made and miners came
in shoals. Business of all kinds in
creased in an overwhelming man
ner. New stores, restaurants, no.
tells and shops arose; new buildings
were erected by the Smelling com
I many and "a faIIow from CmitbyiIIa