“Let’s put all that rot in our prospectus,” 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 of harm for you and Beth to jot down all the brilliant thoughts you run across, for the benefit of our subscribers.”

“We haven’t any subscribers yet,” remarked Beth, placidly.

“I’ll overcome that defect,” said Uncle John.  “I want to subscribe 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 benignantly.

“I’ll take five more yearly subscriptions,” 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.  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 to 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 and Treasurer.’  You see, by using our initials only, no one will ever suspect we are girls.”

“The Millville people may,” said Arthur, slyly, “and perhaps the disguise will be penetrated by outsiders.  That will depend on the paper.”

“I don’t like that combination of sporting editor and secretary 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’s nose, 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 figurehead, but so you won’t loaf on your job I’ve decided to appoint you Solicitor of Advertising and Subscriptions.”

“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 subscriptions, and you can write letters on our new stationery 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 the paper.”