Wichita eagle., 1890-02-06

| DOnneC strings, anu "hSH iCaSiiAAS NO.
- street she climbed the long and
rather dirty stairs until she reached the
Office Of Cozzen & Co., with hopeful
heart.
The door of the room stood open. The
opposite roofs were visible through the
unshaded wiha3ows. Some girls stood al
a table folding pamphlets; others sat at
another directing envelopes. Behind a
barricade of walnut desk and iron rail-
ing sat portly gentleman, bland. and
wearing good deal of white hair, from
which pair of round, black eyes, and a
very round nose, bIackened at the nos
trils with snuff, peered out and gave him
the appearance of one of those poodles
which bellies of years ago were fond of
carrying about with them.
Another lady, with downcast eyes, was
gliding from the room; and another
woman. with rather coarse manner,
tossed her head in Indignation as she
pushed past the first.
Poor things! they have applied for
the place and have not got it," said
| Phoebe; but she could not feel sorry.
The portly gentleman arose behind
his ratings as she looked toward him,
and bowed.
"Walk in," he said.
Phoebe also bowed politely.
'Your advertisement y she faltered.
eyes, yes" said the gentleman, 81 un-
derstand. We have had throngs Of Ia
dies here. HIM. Sit down.
81 do not know what your position is,
SIR" said Phoebe, feeling very brave
almost like the son her father had al
ways wished for, she thought; ''but l
can do my best. I have an education.
am church member. l read a great
deal. think can talk little on sub
ject I understand. And amongst SO
many books"-she glanced at the shelves
81 certainly should find the employ
ment congenial; only l must go out of
town every night"
THAT would be very easy" said the
gentleman. s'You could arrange your
hours to suit yourself You are exactly
the person we want. l see in your face
that expression look for in vain in SO
many faces-intelligence." The gentle
man gave little leap on his chair and
spread his hands abroad. "Vivacityw
lie repeated the action. "And with a
fine personal appearance. You are the
very woman we need. speak in a
purely business way. We must think of
these things. You suit us"
Could it be? Could it be? Phoebe
trembled with JOY. Fifty dollars week
her dreams realized-her father happy!
Meanwhile the gentleman arose from his
seat
This" said he, taking thick volume
from shelf, sis the volume"
Phoebe looked at it with a happy smile
and waited for more.
"Have you ever taken subscriptionsg'
asked the gentleman
NO" said Phoebe; "but r
"Ah, yes, you viii be very successful,
l am sure" said the gentleman. 1--WE
give you list of streets, numbers, names
of residents. You call with the book;
ask to see Mrs. So and So, or Mr.. So and
So; send up your name; your card is
preferable. You rise when the person
enters; say How do you 90, Mrs. So and
So? ] feel that you would be interested
in this work and called to show it to
you You then tall. in such manner
that the person subscribes for the book.
On receiving the money we give you the
percentage You see:'
Yes" said poor Phoebe, who, under
the revulsion of feeling, was on the verge
of fainting fit. Yes 1t is like the
man with 'Dosem's Family Medicine
and the other books. who comes to our
house sometimes. But you give fifty
dollars per week."
Fifty, dear madam!" cried the man.
laughing and rubbing his hands gayly.
''At ten cents on each book you can
easily get hundred subscribers a day
six hundred week; sixty dollars for
the six days work. With your mesmeric
power-I see it in your eyes-you will
make more"
Poor Phoebe began to feel better. 1t
would be terrible work: not at all what
she supposed; but-anything, anything
for father and the homestead!
"ThiS is a specimen copy" said the
gentleman. ''You buy this little book
for your names. 1t has pencil attach
ed; twenty-five cents. And YOU leave
one dollar deposit for the book
SIS that necessary" sighed Phoebe.
"Well, we exact it of ALL" said the
amiable Mr.. Cozzen. "What would you
have? We can't make exceptions; we
should offend Others
Phoebe paid the dollar and quarter,
took the book and walked away, glancing
at the outline Of her beat" which was
far up town.
The book was a collection of receipts.
advice to youth, selections from Bryant's
poems and fun from old Jest books. 1t
had also many patent medicine adver-
tisements bound between its covers, and
four or five portraits of beauties" with
their heads on one side and simpering
smile upon their faces.
Poor Phebel she hoped against hope |
as the street car took her up town, and |
still cherished much more of that COM |
fortlng emotion than could have been |
expected, when her feet touched the red |
hot tiagstones of Fifty-seventh street, |
and the tall residences stared down at
her with half their doors closed with |
those wooden barriers that say to all !
who look, Family gone to Europe" |
But yet there were steps that might be |
and Miss Mumford climbed |
them patiently.
She saw a sweet old tadv a-ho ba,,,o,l |
on her and said: |
We've such large library now. we
can't really add to it. There's not room