The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-04-08
BROWN OF NEVADA.

said the senior partner OF hIuscraoole
& Co., to one of his general statesmen.
'Isn't that Brown of Nevada?"
The general salesman jumped up and
opened wide his eyes, as he always did
when Mr.. Hardscrabble called his atten-
ton to anything, and concentrated all
his energies on a pair of cOat-tails van
ishing into the portals of the rival job
bling room opposite.
''By graciousr' he said, "I'm 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 Pillikin, with a peculiar misery
loves-companyn expression, and found
him looking piteously into the face of
Texas man who wanted his goods at 80
DAYS, II per cent lower than the cost of
Transportation, and the privilege of
sending back at the firms expense, 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 general thing this kind OF
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 deiectedly to obey the summons,
that Hardscrabble had just seen Brown
of Nevada going into Scrimmage's. The
general salesman had so often felt this
kind of iron enter into his own soul that
he couldn't help assisting TO probe
others,
Pillikin grew deadly pale. "Brown of
Nevada" he said in hoarse whisper
''into Scrimmage'
at may be to look aronnd," said the
general saleman, little shocked that
Pillikin took it so hard. my gracious,
man, you've got to be prepared for
these things"
'I've 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 l thought
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.
at appears to me. Pillikin, you're losing
the little vim you had last season. How
long do you suppose we can stand this
sort of thing? If you can't do better
than this you 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 goodsp If
you'll take memorandum of this fact,
it will help you little when you see
such man as Brown of Nevada going
into Scrimmage's. But the fact is we
can't blame Brown. He wants a live
man to deal with, not a wooden one"
A hot flame leaped into the haggard
scrabble" he said, 'if you're not salts
fed, tell me SO, but keep civil tongue
in your head l don't allow any man to
speak in that way to me-"
"You don't, ehP" roared Mr.. Hard
scrabble. But Pillikin had turned on
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 out of the store. The
general salesman who had delivered the
message from Hardscrabble remarked to
another general saleman that poor Pill
likin must have caught it pretty hard;
he seemed all broke up"
Poor Pillikin walked on to the ferry
with his head in whirl of diappoint-
ment chagrin, fear and doubt. His re-
ply to the senior member would I'M
doubtedly lose him his situation, as they
would be glad to get rid of him now
that his valuable trade was falling off.
If he could have held on to Brown of
Nevada, all would have been well; and
without Brown of Nevada what would
he be worth elsewhere? How could he
support his wife and children, and his
wife's widowed sister and her little boy,
making nine of them in all, upon any
salary that he could get without the
trade of Brown of Nevada? He was al
ready in debt, and some of the bills
must be settled at once; his account was
overdrawn at the store. 1t made him
shudder to think of it, The cabin of the
ferry boat was sitting. In spite of the
lowering clouds and piercing wind, he
made his way out on the forward deck,
and as he saw the black waves of the
East liver surging against the Shiny
sides of the boat, he was strongly
tempted to do away with all further
trouble for party called Pillikin.
While the temptation assaulted him,
the chains ratified, the newsboys' cry
was heard ON the Brooklyn side, the
boat bumped against the dock, the
crowd pushed him along, and he found
himself plodding his homeward way.
He couldn't bear the depressing in
fuence of the horse-cars, so he trudged
along on foot, fierce March sleet begin
ming to beat upon the only high hat he
owned in the world. Itwas utterly ina
possible to buy another, but Pillikin
didn't care. He probably wouldn't
need high hat in the mental employ
ment he would be compelled to accept
when he was kicked out of Hardscrab-
BILE & Co.'S, and had lost the trade of
Brown of Nevada. When he at last
reached home his fingers were so numb
with the cold he could hardly open the
door, but this didn't matter in the least
Several young and energetic parties ran
to let him in his plumpt, pretty little
wife took his coat and kissed him a half
dozen rosy children put up their mouths
to be kissed; and his still plumper and
prettier sister-in-law took his hat and
cane and kissed him. The dining-room
was warm and cosey; there were his
chair and slippers waiting for him by
the open fire; an inviting meal was
wasting its unctious odors in the hall
below.
"My love-" said his wife, chow late
you are!'
"My dear" said his wife's sister, 1--WE
were so afraid you'd gone off with some
of those horrid customers. You know
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