Half an hour later they were called and Helen went into the board room with mixed emotions throbbing through her mind. What would be the answer to their months of work? Would they get the county work which meant so much or would Burr Atwell succeed in defeating them?
Her arms ached from the heavy task of folding the papers the night before and she was so nervous she was on the verge of tears. If they won they would be able to buy a folder for the press and she wouldn’t have to fold any more papers. That thought alone gave her new courage and she smiled bravely at Tom as he stepped forward and told the supervisors why he believed the Herald should be the third county paper.
Then Mr. Adams, the auditor, presented his sworn statement of the circulation of the Herald and in conclusion, he added:
“I have never seen a sounder or better circulation than these young people have built up. They have made no special offers nor have they reduced rates. People who take the Herald do so because it is one of the best weekly papers I have ever seen.”
The chairman of the board of supervisors looked expectantly around the room.
“The Gladbrook papers, the News and the Times, have made their application and the Herald has just been heard,” he explained. “I expected Mr. Atwell of the Auburn Advocate would be here.”
The board waited for fifteen minutes. Then there was a whispered conference between members and the chairman stood up.
“The selection of official papers has been made,” he announced. “The Gladbrook News, the Gladbrook Times and the Rolfe Herald will be known as the official papers for the ensuing year. The meeting is adjourned until afternoon.”
The editors of the Gladbrook papers offered Tom and Helen their congratulations and expressed willingness to cooperate in every way.
When they were alone Tom looked at Helen through eyes that were dim.