Audubon County journal., July 06, 1916, Image 2

About Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993

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Page
Monopoly of
Story of a Projected Reform
That Came to Naught.
By CLARENCE BUDINGTON KELLAND
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.
Jacob Whittle, newly elected town
councilor, was excited. He rushed up
the stairs to tlie office of Martin Good
hand, who had been president of the
1
board for a time so long that the mem
ory of man runneth not to the contrary.
"Martin," Jacob began shrilly as he
burst into the room and mopped his
brow with a huge blue handkerchief,
"We been neglectin' our duty—not
knowin'ly, Martin, nor deliberately, but
neglectin' all the same. What d'you
B'pose, Martin, is existin' in this town
right under our noses, without our see
In' it, that has got to be stamped out
In the grasp of a iron hand'/ What
d'you s'poseV"
Martin leaned forward, his Jaw set
ting grimly.
"Ain't nobody riolatln' the licker law,
is they?"
"Worse! Worse'nthatl And who'd evei
thought one of 'em would 'a' growed
up right here in Sand Hill? It's a mo
nopoly, Martin—one of them graspin',
grindin', unholy monopolies, that's
what it is!"
"Who's monopollziu' in-Sflnd Hill?"
asked Martin.
"It's our one and only public service
concern. It's our bus line, that's what
it is! It's Harney Beagle. Look this
thing in the eye, Martin, and tell me
if there's any competition. Does any
one else own a bus? What other feller
carries passengers and trunks to the
depot? Nobody! Barney Beagle holds
us in the holler of his hand. He's
grasped oil this here necessity and is
runnin' it to suit himself. I tell you,
Martin Goodhand, if he took a notion
he could raise the fare from the depot
to the hotel to a quarter instead of 10
cents, that's what he could do. He
could charge folks CO cents for takin'
'em and their baggage to a train, and
we couldn't raise a hand to pervent
him. Now what you got to say
"What's your idee?" Martin asked.
"Competition! As officers of this
here town it's our bounden duty to look
to the interests of all the folks that live
here. AVe'll start a village bus line,
and the profits can come off'n the tax
es. It's bound to be a pop'lar measure,
Martin, with everybody exceptin' Bar
ney."
"Jacob"—Martin struck his table a
tremendous blow—"I'm gratified! I
didn't think you had it in you, Jacob,
lou're a man of brains, and how you've
hid it all these years beats me. I
wouldn't be s'prised to see you sent to
the legislater after this—no, sir, I
•wouldn't. How'll we begin?"
"Call a meetin' of the council and
summon Barney Beagle in front of it.
Peaceful measures is best if they'll
work. If he'll give bond and guaran
tee never to raise his rates, all right."
The village councilors were called to
gether, and Jacob Whittle's discovery
was laid before them. One and all sat
aghast at the calamity that had well
nigh overtaken them, and one and all
gazed on Jacob with eyes of admira
tion and envy.
"Has Barney been sent for?" de
manded Jacob.
"He's eomin' up the street now. I
kin hear the rattle of his bus," said
'Abel Martin.
The councilors waited breathlessly.
"DOLIIAB'N A HALF!" GROANED JACOB.
There came a clatter on the stairs, and
Barnabas Beagle entered noisily.
"Afternoon, gentlemen, one and all!"
he roared. "What kin I do for you?
Tickled to death to be of service to the
council!"
"Sit down!" President Goodhand or
dered sternly. "It's been discovered
that you're a monopoly. Know what
a monopoly is?"
"I calc'late it's where a feller has
got all there is of it and is reachin' out
Hr more."
"You've got the idee, all right That
describes you to a tee. You've got all
tho busses there is, and for all we
know you may be stretchin' out after
more."
Barnabas looked from one councilor
to another, and bis eyeB disappeared
tn a mam of wrinklee that always
came at the commencement of a laugh.
Then he opened liis mouth and roared
until the lamp in its bracket threaten
ed to fall.
"Gentlemen, one and all," he said,
with solemnity, "you're right. It
hadn't never occurred to me before—
never. I'm what you said—one of them
monopolies. It's a mean thing to be
and a hard name to be called, but, like
the dog said when he killed the sheep
and was wonderin' whether to eat it, I
might as well have the game as the
name. Therefore, gentlemen, one and
all, bein' 's I'm a monopoly, I'm a-goin'
to monopolize a little. Follerin' out
that line of argyment from and after
the present minute, my rates for car
ryin' folks from the depot to the hotel
is 25 cents, and for eartin' 'em from
their houses to the train is half a dol
lar."
With that Mr. Beagle stamped out.
"We got to fight!" Jacob rasped.
"We will not be trod on. We'll run a
competin' line, and we won't charge
but half of Barney's old prices. Then
we'll see where he'll be with his mo
nopoly!"
Meantime Barnabas Beagle hurried
to the printing office and had printed
two huge placards, with black letters,
on red paper, reading:
BARNABAS BEAGLE
BUS MONOPOLY
Prices Doubled and Custom Solicited
These he fastened, one on each side
of his bus, and drove noisily down
Main street.
Jacob Whittle, with the burden of
the campaign on his willing shoulders,
gave thought to ways and means.
First, it was clear, a conveyance capa
ble of transporting passengers and bag
gage must be had. For an hour Jacob
vainly endeavored to scale this obsta
cle, but his indomitable will finally led
him to a path that might reach its
crest.
The path took the shape of the vil
lage band wagon, a cumbersome affair
on wheels, consisting of a huge wood
en body, with long, parallel, cloth up
holstered seats. It was uncovered, but
would serve its purpose. It was owned
by Henny Richards.
Forth sallied Jacob to the Richards
home, where, behind the barn, stood
the objective vehicle. He summoned
Henny, ho emerged from the barn.
"You'd be willin' to do a service for
the community?" asked Jacob, rub
bing his hands.
"Depends some on the service," he
hesitated.
"If it was lendin' the village this
here band wagon for a spell?" suggest
ed the diplomatic Jacob.
"Gratis?" asked Henny.
1
"Gratis," nodded Jacob.
"In that there case," Henny said
positively, "I feel my public spirit ooz
in' out rapid. Besides, I've"—
At this moment Barnabas Beagle ap
peared around the corner of the barn.
He glanced at Jacob and nodded. "I
came to see you," he said, addressing
Henny, "about rentin' this old band
wagon of your'n."
"But," Henny wheezed.
"I want to hire it for a few weeks,"
declared Barnabas.
Jacob seized Henny by the arm.
"I was here first!" he said excitedly.
"I came first!"
"To borrow, not to hire," observed
Henny, who had resumed his usual
calm.
"I'll pay—I'll pay!" exclaimed Jacob.
"How much?"
"Fifty cents a day."
Barnabas grunted scornfully.
"I'll give 75 cents," he said. -4
Jacob glared at the monopolist "A
dollar!" he shouted.
"And a quarter," bid Barnabas.
"Dollar'n a half!" groaned Jacob, his
face working convulsively.
"Two dollars," raised Barnabas.
Jacob hesitated until he saw Henny
turn to his rival and open his mouth.
"Two'11 a half!" he bellowed.
Barnabas was silent.
"It's your'n," observed Henny.
"Cash in advance!"
Jacob paid over a day's rental with
reluctance, his .eyes fixed on the pro
prietor of the local monopoly with a
baleful glare. He even shook his fist
"Tbis'll come out of you, Barney
Beagle!" he vowed. "You'll be made
to pay!"
Barnabas smiled tolerantly, and
Henny Richards doubled up with sup
pressed laughter. Presently the latter
recovered enough to ask if Jacob de
sired horses and a driver.
"I kin rent 'em to you and drive my
self."
"How much?"
"Two dollars a day for the hosses'
and a dollar a day for me."
Jacob recognized the price as reason
able and closed at once. His campaign
against monopoly was costing $5.50
day, and he was pledged to carry
fares at half Barnabas' old rate. He
hoped the opposition would be unable
to hold out long against such competi
tion.
The following morning the active
campaign opened. Henny appeared at
the depot platform on the seat of the
band wagon just as Barnabas drove up
on his bus. Barney's sign was still
displayed. On the band wagon was a
legend which begged all public spirited
people to help break the monopoly and
save money at the same time. Prices
of 5 cents to the hotel and 15 cents
elsewhere were offered. Barnabas se
renely made demand for a quarter to
the hotel and 50 cents beyond.
The train drew in, and a dozen peo
ple alighted. Two were traveling men
with heavy grips, and with glad shouts,
as of those who sight an old acquaint*
ance, they hailed Barnabas. Mutely,
but grinning, he pointed to his Bign
and to the band wagon.
They loudly demanded to be enlight
ened as to what they called "the joke,"
then threw their baggage on the roof
and entered the bus.
{tiro other Individuals chc^e the band
4 *lss
-s.i
wagon. Next came Higgins the grocer,
returning from the city. He took in
the situation at a glance and with wry
mouth climbed into Barnabas' convey
ance. Four strangers took the band
wagon, all passengers b^ond the ho
tel. That was all.
That afternoon Jacob approached
Grocer Higgins frowningly.
"What's the matter?" he demanded.
"Ain't you goin' to help bust the mo
nopoly? Be you goin' to let a restraint
of trade rob you?"
"When Barney Beagle is it I am,"
said Higgins. "His trade is wuth more
to me than savin' a quarter two or
three times a year."
So matters went on for a couple of
•weeks, the reformers spending $5.50
for their conveyance each day and nev
er taking in more than $3 hi fares.
The dead loss of $16 or $18 a week,
for no trains arrived, on Sunday, was
I GOT A CROWD OF VILLAGE COUNCIL
ORS HELPIS' ME OCT."|?
carving great chips off their enthusi
asm. Barnabas' earnings were being
cut into, of course.
Jacob alone of the councilmen was
indomitable, and he inspired his col
leagues to light on for unother week.
"He'll-never hold out,'" Jacob reit
erated. "He's got to coine to terms
He's got to! Then we kin git an iron
clnd agreement out of him, and his
monopoly will be busted. We'll be able
to control rates!"
But Barnabas did not surrender, and
after the fourth week-the village coun
cilors had had enough. Seventy dol
lars wf^ted in four weeks! It was not
to be neard of longer. Besides, the
town lawyer told them that it might
come out of their own pockets if any
taxpayer protested, for the expenditure
was beyond their authority. Learning
of this, Barnabas promptly lodged a
formal protest.
Forthwith the monopolist was sum
moned again to the council chamber^
'Be you willin' to sign a agreement
to let this here council fix your rate of
fare?" demanded Jacob.
"Now, Mr. Whittle," said Barnabas
in a pained voice, "how could I do
that? Maybe you'd have me carryin'
folks for a cent a ride."
"You're a illegal monopoly!" shouted
Jacob.
"Maybe so maybe so. 'Tain't my
fault. Nobody knew it till you found
it OUt." !•/. Jg
"You raised your prices."
Here Martin Goodhand made his
presence felt.
"If we pull off our band wagon will
you promise to come back to your old
prices and stay there? You're losin'
money every day."
Barnabas made no reply, and Martin
kicked the table in disgust. His anger
got the better of him.
"We'll show you, Barney Beagle!
You can't go playin' no tricks on us.
We'll fight this here thing to a' finish
if every cent has to come out o' my
own pocket. We'll bust you!"
"Jest a minute," returned Barnabas
soothingly. "Let's talk this over quiet
Let's see how long it's goin' to take to
bust me and how much it'll cost you to
do it. Let's jest see. Now, I guess 1
rec'llect right—you're payin' two-fifty
a day for that old band wagon, eh?"
Martin nodded.
"And two a day for the hosses?"
Again a nod.
"Who be you payin' It to?"
"Henny Richards, of course."
"Dm," granted Barney. "Now let's
look at me. I'm makln' a livin' with
my bus. Even with the fallin' off in
trade I been comin' within a dollar a
day of what I made before. But"—he
paused and grinned amiably at Jacob—
"I got other resources." sv-
Everybody sat erect and stared, ir
"What d'you mean?" demanded Mar
tin.
"I got a crowd of village councilors
helpin* me out," Barnabas explained,
with a broad grin "payin' me a matter
of four-fifty a day, and two-flfty of
that is clear profit."
"What?" roared Martin, seconded by
Jacob Whittle.
"That gives me a dollar an' a half
more profit than I was makin' before,"
Barnabas pointed out. "You see, Hen
ny Richards don't own that band wag
on nor them hosses."
"What?" "bouted the council.
"No," replied Barnabas happily. "I
bought 'em from Henny just before
Jacob turned up to borrow 'em."
"And then bid agin me to raise the
hire!" yelled Jacob.
"You was wantin' competition." said
Barnabas. .-JPf
Martin Goodhand arose slowly.
"I guess we got it, all right-plenty
of it! I reckon, Jacob, we better leave
monopoly bustin' to them that's used
to it For me, I'm satisfied."
Barnabas walked to-tbe door, recog
nizing surrender.
"Seein's competition's withdrew," he
said, "my charges comes down to the
old figger. That -was good enough lor
®e.". vt¥'
lit
1
",*,*= '«aiw*||
ZLC
GRAY
XT
C. Shingled ecker and family also
Mother and Mrs. Flauwders a oous
i'n, autoed out to Ray Emmerson's
home firMay and spent the eve
UillUg.
Mir. and Mrs. L. L. FairreW' "wient
to Maxwell, Iowa, Sunday -to spend
a few days wiith Mire. Fa.rreill's
siisitier.
Mrs. Ross Hligigiins arJd children
Wfeire shopping i.n Mannimg Satur
day
Mrs. Jay Bridemstdx.e and child
ren of near A-uduboni visitied a few
days a.t.^the li. B. PaokaiKl home.
D. C. Rces w«iiit out to Omaha: Sat
Uirday. He wtill drive
a,
far E. Beason.
guests at the E. C. Rioe home ,Sum
da
4 lA
•Mr. and Mrs. E1 (B-uck'ner. recteved
a message that her father wias dead
They Uett for Ot'tumwla at .xmce.
WimT SpiUker of Scra'nto|n came
dkwn Sunday to see hie fatheir rer
turnimg home Monday evening.
Rev. Fltimingis wife and (daughter
I of Collins, Iowa,
-viiS'Med
at the Chris
Jensen home this week. 2^ J"',
Mts. Freet Wicker who ha6 been
visiting heir ei©t€ir IMira. H. B. Pack
ard left for heir home at Cali
fornia Wednesday eveniing.
SHOULD SLOAN'S LINIMENT GO
ALONG?
Of course is should. For after a
strenuois day whe»r your muscles
have betn exeic'ssd to the limit
an application of Sloajo's Liniment
•will 'take the soreness and stiff
ness away and get you in fine
|rihape for the morrow. You should
a'so use it for a sudden attack of
toothache, stiff neck, backache,
stings, bites and the many accidents
that are incidental to a vacation.
"We would as scon leave our bag
gage as go on a vacation or camp
out without Sloans Liniment."
Writes one vacationist: "We use
it for eveiyihing frcm cramps to
toothache." Put a bottle in your
bag, be prepared and have no re
grets.
I
Miss Hannah Anidlersen was the
guerit last wteek of her sister, Mrs.
•Petersen am Omaha.
Miss Louise Jones went to Atlan^
tic last wtetk for a short viisit with
fj'iiands
Mrs Hj&njy Hansen and chiildrein
viisitfeid a fer\M days lasc week iin Wl
oBa. with h.e-r sister, Mirs. R. Mil
ler.
iMilsseis Martha Vtass and Mary
1 Hensley of Exira were guests oi
Mabel and Mary Me last Friday.
Mrs. Roi=coe Essington and daugh
ter M'adtline were visititng in At
'lantjiq i'iriiday.
M'iise Th&lma Bartlett wias cal
ling on friends in Exi'ra Friday.
Mesdaan.es, T. J. MoGrpvern, L. IP.
Rassnuesei), Peter Beok amd Jesbie
Nymand wlere Atlantic visliftiors Frit
day.
Pips*
oar haieSt
Mjrs. Florence Flaoinders who ha«
beea vasfitiiiig the J. and1 C. Shffng
ledi&Cktir homes returned to her
Jionie at Everett, Washington
Saturday evening.
Clias. Corner was a passemger
tlo Audubon, •Saturday.
Mrs.-Ch as. Linn was a Manning
ca.llar Friday.
John Crew a«vd wife of Old Oan
rolltofn visited at the Forest Fa,r-
11
a ham heme Sunday afternoon, wall
hiis sister who is very low.
Grandpa Ned row weint to Atlantic
Monday.
Miesdamie's Packard and Wick
ham1 went to Audubon? the first of
t'.ie week to visut (relatives and old
friiendS).
Abrarm Crow1 of Marshalltown, la.
ite here to visit his s'ister Mrs.
Gray wtoof is1 serousl sick.
F. Rice and wife of Audubon were
WM
Sc. H*
Exira, Iowa
Haus Hansen of Hansen. Heights'
was in Brayton Monday on business
Mirs. Mollie Jenkins and grand
daughters Chlorite and Josephine
Sootit of AtJlantlito were oallling at th
J.T.Jenkins olme Monday, going to
the J. E. He.wick home iin the even
iing.
Mcitt Hoi tan went to Wootdbine to
spend the Flourth. j' _0.'f
Lester Hansen had an accident
with h's oar Saturday night.. The
car turned turtle on it hie A. F/ Anir
dereen liMO.. There wtere several
|.oya wfcth .him but no one was aerr
iously injured. The car.' wias onJp
slightly damaged. '-art/
Brayton was deserted the Fourth,
•nearly everyone goficng to one of
•many oe'Jefrratfons being held in
neighboring towUis.
Beulah Parrolit who has been
visilting at the home of her brother,
•'ohn Parrott near Rotas, returned
home (Monday.
V. J. Robinson of Aitlantao wias
iin Bray.torn, on businees, Saturday.
George Gore off Perry, and Will
May of .Exira w/eie .calling on fronds
in Brayton last Friday.
Peter Metz and famiMy of Cana
da were visdtimg their, relatives at
the Wm. Bdmtner home east of
town.
Transacts a General Banking Business%
Collections Promptly attended to
Money to Loan on Good Securities
We are "now pre
pared to manufac
ture a concrete
stave Silo, the best
silo on the market
We build these
silos on your farm,
under most favor
able prices and
terms. The per
fection silo is
proof againest de
struction £by fire
and wind.
The demand for
silos in this com
munity this year
is going to be
greater than ever.
The silo has come
Jx
Si
ftr*-
to stay.
Visit our factory
and we will show
you a silo of the
finest and best
construction at
the lowest price
We also manu
v- facture cement
blocks and do gen
eral concrete work
't'K
A. T. RASMUSSEN, Brayton, Iowa
-'M llhjr
Eli Hansen, Nels P. Nelson and
Peter Jacobsen, have gotoe to Mlu
esota on a fishing trip.
Walter Hoegh of Atlantic was in
Brayton Monday on business and al
so called on his parents Mr. andi Mrs.
Nieils P. Hoegh.
Miss Agnes NeJeon went to Des
Moines Satifrday, r.etuirnimg Monday.
Mrs. Morey of Audubon is the
iguest of her friiend, Mrs. Ord
way. y~ **V-v--•"'• V" 1
Twelve new meanbeirs were taJken
into the Bapt'st church Sunday,
baptism taking piltwse at the moriL
imsr aer\-ice. The tejit^imteetlinge oiob
ed Sunday,
Audubofn Oo. Jolurnal, JuTy 6, '1916
Chi as Van Gorcicr, Pres.
.Jotin McDanicls, V. Pfes.
Eel. Delaliovcic. Castiier
THE "EXCHANGE BANK
Exchanges bought and Sold
SIM Buyers Attention!
'Asa and Mitt Horton of Council
Bluffs are here to spend the Fooirth.
•and to' visit theiir sisiter, Mrs. Ma,r-~
inus Jenssin.
Miiss Mary Decker of Oiuaha is
v.siting at the L. M. Parrott home.
Dane schcol is being held in the
Brayton school house, commencdng
Monday.
M.'ss May me Essingiton who has
itfe^fii in Denver the past year, qame
home Monday to visit her motihier,
Mrs. J. T. Essingiton.
sSn^^'
••THEY DO OOME BACK FOB IX"
If "they do come back" for It" as
is claimed they do, no Dealer can,
afford not to have Hanford's Bal
aam of Myrrh constantly in stock.
It should be remembered that when
a customer 1B unable to get a well
known, old established prepara
tion that he wants, he often
switches his trade to the store
that can supply his demands. Pull
Information regarding this prepara
tion, which IB stocked by all lead
ing Jobbers, will be cheerfully supV
P'ied by the G. O. Banford Mfg. Go.
v' ••-iff
I IOWA INVJiNTORS.
Tlie following patents war's just
issued to Iowa cliieJits, reported' by|
I). Swift and Co., Patent Lawyers,
Washington, D. C., who will fu.roi»h
copies of any parent foir ten) oantis
apiece to our readers.
J. S. Baughman, Burlington, Pul
'iey aitachju'ediib for iwheeis 0'. W^'
Fryer, St. Charles, Gate—opeiratlnig
means B. p. Hanson1, Bancroft,
Tend'&r for •auitoiinobites and other
Vehicles R. A. Houdyshell, Tlama^
Packaige-tie O. F. Karkpa'tiriick,Noirt,t
English, Egg or cream beating
vessel J. p.. Machoveo, Iowa City,
Band-li'ght A. R. Mutton, Watieir
loo, Pivobey end-lock bolt H. F.'
Neve, Hancocik, Gearing for phono
graphs and other talking machines
H. PetersDav'enpo-rt, Linotype
imiacliine.
IffP
AMONG T-HE I5KAYTONITKS
Petersen Pou.'sen of near Bray
ton attended the celebration here
Huesday. Mus. Nick Poulsien, Petier's
jnoither, was1 hurt in a runaway af
ter attending a birthday party at
the Hans Hansen home in Exira
one year ago todlay, .j