The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-17

~ ~
NJ grinding the self con-
N\MfYa ceit out of employees
who work at starva-
ton rates, but who are afraid to apply for
an increase of salary for fear of being dis
charged on the spot. No doubt there is
something in this, but it generally occurs
because the clerk is not very competent,
or lacks the nerve to assert his rights. But
Jim Slickboy, who is drummer for a
wealthy New York merchant named Flip,
Is not that kind of a serf. With Jim it is
the same as with the average ballet
dancer-a little modesty goes long way.
To show Jim's nerve-which, by the
way, is nerve that never relaxes-on one
occasion Flip, not having heard from him
in the way of orders, telegraphed to him:
"Jim, are you still with us?" to which
he Immediately replied: Have drawn
on you for $500. Flip, / am still with
you"
These little incidents, and the liability of
Jim's leaving him and transferring all his
customers to some rival merchant worried
old Flip very much. He finally. however,
eoncocted a little scheme by which he
hoped to prevent Jim from being gobbled
up by rival firm.
Jim had just returned from an extensive
trip out West, upon which, as usual, he
had been very successful. He was fixing
up statement of the trip when old Flip
entered.
"My dear Mr.. slickboy, good morn
ing~ exclaimed Flip, shaking his hand
cordially.
"Morning, Flip" answered Jim, briefly.
81 am glad to see you are back"
81 suppose so. I'd be glad to see your
back, too, for I'm very busy indeed just
now" remarked Jim, penciling away.
s'What you need is chin rest, but come
around little later and I'll try and spare
time to talk to you. You remind me of an
old hen. You never need any help when
you are cackling."
Wouldn't bother you now, Mr.. Slick
boy, only wanted to speak to you about a
little matter of Importance to you. You
know" said Flip, hesitatingly.
s'See here, Flip, is it positively neces-
sary for me to stop work and chin with
your I'll have to go right out on the road
again to escape being talked to death.
You are the most persistent man ever
struck"
"Don't get angry, Mr.. Slickboy, beg of
you. What wished to speak of concerns
yourself personally.
Now, Flip, haven't told you time and
again that have no time for personal con-
versation during business hours Are you
actually trying to exasperate me beyond
the limit of human endurance?"
"a thousand times mol" exclaimed Flip,
thoroughly frightened. 'What I wished
TO speak about was that I have observed
"Oh, see. / know what you are driv-
ing ar. You have noticed that it would be
to your interest to pay me ten per cent.
more commission than you are now doing,
and have also observed that l ought to
have couple of hundred dollars more for
travelling expenses. l accept-I'Il not go
back on my word-so run along now and
let me attend to my business. You needn't
waste any more time over little trifie like
that"
Flip hardly knew what TO do. So far he
had been unable to try his little scheme on
Jim. The latter feigned not TO see him,
and it was not until Flip timidly pro-
nounced his name that he spoke.
What" he exclaimed, much surprised,
''you here yet! Great Scott don't you
know that time is money? You act as if
you were built in this office and was wait
ing to be launched. Is this your vacation
week2"
81 wanted to tell you
"Why blankity blank it, didn't tell
you that / would accept your increaseP /
would have accepted 1t long ago, If you
had mentioned it. What do you want?'
Beads of perspiration stood on poor
Flip's forehead, and he blinked like bat
in midday. 81 only wanted to say, Mr..
Slickboy that had noticed your atten-
tons to my daughter Carrie, and wanted
to let you know that they were recipro-
Gated, and that you had my hearty con-
sent to an engagement. There is no
young man L know of whom L would
a
$50 you don't refer to an increase in
commission ?" roared Slickboy.
"Oh, yes, it's all right about the in
crease. l am only too glad to have you
accept it, but-er-what am l to tell Car
''I'm afraid she will have to do some
pining. Carrie Is nice enough girl in her
way but it would be useless for her to en-
gage herself to me. I'll tell you why.
don't believe we have big customer out
West who hasn't got daughter that is en-
gagged TO me. That is one of the secrets of
my success. They think whenever they
give me an order: We'll, this Young duck
will soon be marrying my daughter, and
It's just like having 1t in the family At
the same time If keep on engaging N.Y.
self to girls, people will think / am West
Point cadet after while"
We'll. God bless mel" exclaimed the
astonished Flip, passing his hand over his
face in dazed manner as he returned to
| his office completely crushed.
"A nice little game that of Flip's. u
chuckled Jim, as he checked off an order
for 1000 pounds of starch. THE old
codger's got more sense than thought he
| had. He wants to have a dead sure
mother-in-law grip on me, but I'm too old
bird for that"
Slickboy then wrote out a more loving
/ letter TO MY dear future little wifey. =
telling how lonesome he telt away from
her, how he would count the hours until
he could once more clasp her to his bosom.
etc. Having finished the letter he sent off
duplicates to his future wife Jennie al
Chicago, Minnie at st. Louis, Katrina at
Milwaukee, Fannie at Cincinnati. MeIanie
at New Orleans and all the rest of her.
ALEXANDER f. SWEEP
o. K. T. In purely vegetable and so rieaS.,,