Work and Win No. 853

Catalog Note *Work and Win*, No. 853 (April 9, 1915) contains "Fred Fearnot's Honor: or Backing Up His Word" by Hal Standish. The protagonist, Fred Fearnot, and his partners—Olcott, Terry, Duncan, and Joe Jencks—have successfully developed a town called New Era by selling lots and collecting profits. Concerned that nearby farmland might be purchased for saloons, Fred disguises himself as an elderly stranger to gather intelligence on land values. He visits Farmer Busbee, who owns eighty productive acres three-quarters of a mile from town, ostensibly seeking a dairy cow. Busbee, a shrewd businessman with thirty-five cattle, demonstrates his agricultural expertise through detailed yield records and economic calculations, valuing his stock highly. When questioned about selling his entire operation—livestock, buildings, and equipment—Busbee names a figure of twenty-four thousand dollars plus twelve hundred dollars annually to manage it. Fred recognizes the price as favorable but ultimately finds the arrangement impractical for his purposes.