Part 12 (1/2)
”No, I won't deal with any news company. I want to go direct to the people. Say I get a hundred newsmen to distribute in their neighborhood?”
”But who'll get the paper to the newsmen?”
”Hire a truck company--so much a week.”
”And how much will you charge for the paper?”
”Cent a copy.”
”Can't do it,” said Marty.
”Why not?”
Marty did some figuring, so they raised the price to two cents. And then they put in twenty minutes and worked out the scheme. It summed up as follows:
Paper sells at 2 cts., 20,000 $400 Expenses 340 ---- Profit $ 60
Joe was exultant.
”Sixty profit! Well, I'm hanged.”
”Not so fast, Joe,” said Marty, drily. ”They say no one ever started a magazine without getting stuck, and anyway, you just reckon there'll be expenses that will run you into debt right along. But of course there'll be the ads.”
”I don't know about the ads,” said Joe. ”But the figures please me just the same.”
Marty squirmed in his chair.
”Joe,” he burst out, ”how the devil is the printery going to run without you?”
Their eyes met, and Joe laughed.
”Will it be worth twenty-five thousand dollars when it's rebuilt and business booming again?” he asked, shrewdly.
”More than that!” said Marty Briggs.
”Then,” said Joe, ”I want _you_ to take it.”
”_Me_?” Marty was stunned.
”You can do it easily. I'll take a mortgage and you pay it off two thousand a year and five per cent. interest. That will still leave you a tidy profit.”
”_Me_?” Then Marty laughed loud. ”Listen, my ears! Did you hear that?”
”Think it over!” snapped Joe. ”Now come along.”
VII
LAST OF JOE BLAINE AND HIS MEN