Part 9 (1/2)
”We expect to get quite a bit of business training out of issuing our paper,” said Paul modestly.
”And in order to do it, you young rascals are going to rope me into your schemes, are you?” demanded the judge.
”Mr. Carter is.”
”It's the same thing--or rather it isn't the same thing, for what I would not consent to do for Mr. Carter I am going to do for you boys.”
Paul murmured his thanks.
”Tut, tut! Say no more about it,” Judge Damon commanded hastily. ”My son is in the cla.s.s, you know; surely I should be showing little loyalty to 1920 if I were not ready to help make it glorious; and even if I had no boy in the High School it would be the same. I should be glad to promote so worthy an undertaking.”
From the litter of papers on the desk the man took up a crisp white sheet which he folded carefully and slipped into an envelope.
”There is a legal contract for Mr. Carter to sign,” he said. ”It states that in consideration of the _Echo_ Press printing ten numbers of the _March Hare_, I am to furnish Mr. Carter with six articles on the League of Nations.”
”It's mighty good of you, sir.”
The judge waved his hand.
”Don't let the favor oppress you, sonny,” he said. ”Along with your father I am having my little joke on Carter. I'd like to see his face when you confront him with this bit of paper. He'll be bound to carry out his bargain whether he likes it or not.”
”You don't think he'll back down.”
”Carter back down! No, indeed. Mr. Carter is a man of his word. Although I differ from him on just about every possible subject, I am glad to give the devil his due. What he promises he will stick to; never fear,”
Judge Damon declared quickly.
This prediction proved to be no idle one for when, within two or three days, Paul presented himself once more in the library of Mr. Arthur Presby Carter and placed in that august person's hand not only the ten advertis.e.m.e.nts for the _Echo_ but his father's subscription to the same paper, and the written agreement of the judge, Mr. Carter, although plainly chagrined, did not demur.
On the contrary he glanced keenly at the youthful diplomat, observing grimly:
”You are an enterprising young man, I will say that for you. I should not mind knowing to what methods you resorted to win these concessions from these stern-purposed gentlemen. Did you bribe or chloroform them?”
The boy laughed triumphantly.
”Neither, sir.”
”The judge, for example--I can't imagine what influence could have been brought to bear on him to have achieved such a result. I have offered him a good price for those articles and he has repeatedly refused it.
And now he is going to do them for nothing.”
”He just wanted to help us out.”
”And your father?”
”He was game, too.”
Mr. Carter was silent.
”Well, I guess I can be as good a sport as they can,” he observed at length. ”Get your material together for your first number of the _March Hare_ and bring it over to the _Echo_ office. I'll see that one of our staff gives you a lesson on how to get it into form. Have you a typewriter?”