"We are to become public mentors to the simple natives of Chazy County，"continued Patsy，warming up to her subject and speaking oratoricallya."We shall be the guiding star of the—er—er—the benighted citizens of Millville and Huntingdon.We must lead them in politics，counsel them in the management of their farms and educate them to the great World Movements that are constantly occurring.""Let's put all that rot in our prospectusb，"said Louise，looking at her cousin admiringly."Can you remember it，Patsy，or had I better write it down now？I like that about teaching the farmers how to run their farms；it's so practical.""You wait，"said Patsy unflinchingly."I'll write 'em an editorial that will make their eyes roll.But it won't do a bit ofharm for you and Beth to jot down all the brilliant thoughts you run across，for the bene？t of our subscribers.""We haven't any subscribers yet，"remarked Beth，placidly.
"I'll overcome that defect，"said Uncle John."I want tosubscribe right now for ten copies，to be mailed to friends of mine in the city who—who need educating.I'll pay in advance and collect of my friends when I see 'em."This was certainly encouraging and Patsy smiled benignantlya."I'll take ？ve more yearly subions，"said Arthur."Oh，but you're going to be on the staff ！"cried Patsy."Am I ？""Certainly.I've been thinking over our organization and while it is quite proper for three girls to run paper，there ought to be a man to pose as the editor in chief b.That'll be you，Arthur.""But you won't print my name ？""Oh，yes we shall.Don't groan，sir；it's no disgrace.Wait till you see the Millville Tribune.Also we shall print our own names，in that case giving credit toc whom credit is due.The announcement will run something like this：'Arthur Weldon，General Manager and Editor in Chief；P.Doyle，General News Editor；L.Merrick Weldon，Society and Literary Editor；E.DeGraf，Sporting Editor，Secretary andTreasurer.'You see，by using our initials only，no one will ever suspect we are girls.""The Millville people may，"said Arthur，slyly，"andperhaps the disguise will be penetrated by outsiders.That will depend on the paper.""I don't like that combination of sporting editor andsecretary and treasurer，"objected Beth."It isn't the usual thing in journalism，I'm sure.Suppose you call me Editor of Special Features，and let it go at that ？""Have we any special features？"asked Louise."Oh，yes，"said Arthur；"there's Beth's eyebrows，Patsy'snose，and—""Do be sensible ！"cried Patsy."This isn't a joking matter，sir.Our newspaper will have plenty of special features，and Beth's suggestion is a good one.It sounds impressive.You see，Arthur，we've got to use you as a ？gurehead，but so you won't loaf ona your job I've decided to appoint you Solicitor of Advertising and Subions.""Thank you，my dear，"he said，grinning in an amused way.
"You and Louise，who still like to be together，can drive all over the county getting subions，and you can write letters on our new stationeryb to all the big manufacturers of soaps and breakfast foods and beauty powders and to all the correspondence schools and get their advertisements for the Tribune.If you get a good many，we may have to enlarge thepaper.""Don't worry，Miss Doyle；I'll try to keep within bounds."And so they went on，laying plans and discussing details in such an earnest way that Uncle John became as enthusiastic as any of them and declared in no uncertain tone that the Millville Daily Tribune was bound to be a "howling success".
After the girls had retired for the night and the men sat smoking together in Uncle John's own room，Arthur said：
"Tell me，sir，why you have encouraged this mad project."The little millionaire puffed his pipe in silence a moment.
Then he replied：
"I'm educating my girls to be energetic and self—relianta.I want to bring out and develop every spark of latentb ability there is in them.Whether the Millville Tribune succeeds or fails is not important；it will at least keep them busy for a time，along new lines，and tax their best resources of intellect and business ability.In other words，this experience is bound to do'em good，and in that way I figure it will be worth all it costs—and more.I like the originality of the idea；I'm pleased with the difficulties I see looming ahead；I'm quite sure my girls will rise to every occasion and prove their gritc."He paused to knock the ashes from his pipe."I'm worth a lot of money，Arthur，"he continued，meeklyd，"and some daythese three girls will inherit immense fortunes.It is my duty to train them in all practical business ways to take care of their property.""I follow your line of reasoning，sir，"observed ArthurWeldon；"but this absurd journalistic venture is bound to result in heavy ？nancial loss.""I know it，my boy.I'm sure of it.But can't you see thatthe lesson they will learn will render them more cautious in making future investments？I'm going to supply a complete newspaper outfit—to the last detail—and give 'em a good running start.Then I shall sit back and watch results.If they lose money on running expenses，as they surely will，they'll ？rst take it out of their allowances，then sell their jewelry，and ？nally come to me for help.See？The lesson will be worth while，Arthur，and aside from that—think of the fun they'll have ！"
