Eau Claire High School - Beaver Tales Yearbook (Eau Claire, MI)

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Thirty-one

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“Sold” ELMER HASTINGS Melton’s Quality Clothing Store was the largest and oldest clothing store in the town. For a long time it had been the only one. When James Melton, the owner of the store, died, his sons, Thomas and Edward, took up the business. Edward had graduated from High School just the year before and Thomas was a Junior. A man by the name of Charles Carter, thinking that on account of their youth and inexper- ience they would manage the business poorly, started another clothing store in oppo- sition to them. But he was disappointed for they managed the business well and had as large a trade as he had. But Carter succeeded in working two or three “crooked” schemes on them which seriously crippled their business. And now both firms were struggling to keep from drowning in a sea of bankruptcy. The town could not support two such stores. It was just a question of who could hold out the longer. Both of the boys were feeling blue. They were now talking of selling three lots which belonged to them in order to get money to hold out a little longer. “Look here. Tom,” said Ed, “even if we do sell those lots Carter can hold out longer than we can. We can’t get a very big price for them. The best offer we have had yet is $600. I wish we could get Edwards or some of those rich speculators interested in them They’ll each bring a lot of money when that new factory is built but we can’t wait that long and of course we can’t interest Edwards. He won’t buy unless he is pretty sure he has a good thing.” Edwards was a rich retired merchant living in a neighboring town, who liked to speculate in real estate occasionally. “But say,” said Tom, “there’s one funny thing about Edwards. Carter can sell him anything he wants to. It seems that Carter helped him to put over a big deal one time and he believes that Carter’s judgment is infallible. But that doesn’t do us any good. Edwards is the only man who could pay us more than has been offered and we couldn’t interest him. Well, let’s go home and maybe we can think up some plan to get more money.” A few days later a man appeared at Carter’s store and asked for a private inter view. He introduced himself as Albert Neale. “Mr. Carter,” he said, “I have come to Medford to live and when I first came here I bought three town lots of the Melton Brothers. Now I want to buy a house and need the money. I have heard that you are a good business man and a “hustler.” I paid $600 for the lots. If you will sell them for me I will pay you ten per cent of all you get above that price.” Needless to say Carter accepted the proposition. “Ha,” he thought, “So those young fellows are pressed for money and had to sell those lots. Well, I’ll beat them yet.” That night Carter was to go to a big reception given a distinguished guest by a friend of his in the neighboring town of Stanton. It was a big affair and no one but the big men of the country were invited. Now Charles Carter thought a great deal of Charles Carter and he wanted everyone else to do the same. He took pains that the news of his invitation be spread about town. If he had told people himself, it would seem like boasting so he used a much simpler, quicker, and safer way. When Mrs. Emelia Higgins came in to buy a collar for her husband he “happened” to mention the invitation. Then of course it was all over town before the day was over. That night Carter went down to the station to wait for the train. He was dressed in his very best clothes. It was a warm night so he had no raincoat or top-coat. (Continued on page 34.) Thirty

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Sophomore Class Roll MELVIN SEEL GERALD WIILLIAMS MARY YETTER HAZEL BURNS MILDRED DEWITT HELEN WINANS LOIS HOADLEY ETHEL MITCHELL LOUISE FREITAG HAROLD GRAY ROLAND MOODY Thirty-two