The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-05-05
BROWN OF NEVADA.

"Who's that going into Scrim-
mage's?" said the senior partner of
Hardscrabble & Co. to one of his general
statesmen. "Isn't that Brown of Ne
vada?''
The general salesman jumped and
opened wide his eyes, as he always did
when Mr.. Hardscrabble called his atten-
ton to anything, and concentrated all
his energies upon pair of tweed coat
tails vanishing into the portals of the
rival jobbing house opposite.
'.By graciousr' he said, 'Tm afraid
it is Brown of Nevada"
That's the second time to-day he's
gone into Scrimmage's, said Mr. Hard
scrabble. "Just look up Pillikin, will
You. and send him into the office"
The general salesman went in search
of Mr.. Pillikin with peculiar misery
loves-company' expression, and found
him looking piteously in the face of a
Texas man who wanted his goods at
ninety days, twelve per cent. lower than
the cost of importation, and the privi-
lege of sending back at the FIRMS ex-
pense, some goods that he wanted to
take on trial. The Texas man baited
poor Pillikin to the verge of desperation,
and walked out of the store with the
passing remark that he'd look in again.
Even the soul of the general salesman
and as a general thing this kind of a
soul is not made of wax-melted at the
haggard visage of Pillikin when he told
him that Mr.. Hardscrabble wanted to
see him in the Office. Yet to save his
life he couldn't help adding, as Pillikin
went dejectedly to obey the summons,
that Hardscrabble had just seen Brown
of Nevada going into Scrimmage's.
The general salesman had so often felt
this sort of an iron enter into his own
soul. he couldn't help assisting to probe
others.
Pillikin grew deadly pale. "Brown
of Nevada he said, in hoarse whis-
per-.'into Scrimmage'sn'
cit may be only to look around" said
the general salesman, little shocked
that Pillikin took it quite so hard. "My
gracious, man, you've gotto be prepared
for these things"
'Tve had too many of them lately"
said Pillikin. 81 never had such luck in
my life as I've had this season. Brown
of Nevada is one of the men thought 1
could rely upon. I've been looking for
him all day.
$50 you've slipped up with Brown,
have you?" snarled the senior member,
as poor Pillikin walked into the Office.
cit appears to me, Pillikin, you're los
ing the little vim that you had last sea-
son. How long do you suppose we can
stand this sort of thing? If you can't
do better than this, you'd better not
come to the store at adjust draw your
salary and stay at home. Are you
aware that this is the busy season, the
short period when we are supposed to
sell goods? If you'll take memoran-
dunn of this fact it may help you little
when you see such men as Brown of
Nevada going into Scrimmage's. But
the fact is we can't blame Brown. He
wants live man to deal with, not a
wooden one"
A hot flame leaped. into the haggard
face of Pillikin. 'See here, Mr.. Hard
scrabble" he said; eff you're not salts
fed, tell me so, but keep civil tongue
in your head. don't allow any man
to speak in that way to me-"
''You don't, eh?" roared Mr.. Hard
scrabble. But Pillikin had turned upon
his heel and walked out of the office.
more dead than alive. The flame had
died out of his cheeks and left them
paler than before. His legs trembled
beneath him as he walked on out of the |
store. The general salesman who had
delivered the message from Hardscrabble
remarked to another general salesman
that '.poor Pillikin must have caught it
pretty hard; he seemed all broke up"
Poor Pillikin walked on to the ferry |
with his head in a whirl of disappoint-
ment, chagrin, fear and doubt. His
reply to the senior member would I'M
doubtedly loose him his situation, as they |
would be glad to get rid of him now
that his valuable trade was falling of.
If he conld have held on to Brown of |