The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-17
7nH DRUMMER WAS MERIT,
And tho rookkeeper Dashed uis Check
Cnhesitaiauiy


tnhesitaiauiy.
Anumbcr Of com mcrcial travellers sat In the
lobby Of m un-town hotel the other night. talk
ing OF odd experiences while travelling.
1t Is stranEc how ready business mon arc
to take things for granted" said one OF the m.
the average man surposes that the ~ or
chant is very careful In money matters. ani
very slow about acceptina the representations
OF strangers. but / had an experience Some
time ago which proved the contrary. You all
know that the most depressing thirg that can
happen to n drummer Ii to run short Of money
on tho road. especially at a time when no is
bound to make lui. connections had that
happen to me- last yeer.
was making u trim through the West for a
'hicago flrm. and was taking in only tho big
cities. had n great lot OF baggage. and my
expenses were very high on account of the eX.
cess / had to nay. Besides. trade was dull.
anc II required much coaxinG and liberal en-.
pertaining TO get buyer to look at my goods.
had learned that another man in the same
line was going over tho same route. and I
Know, OF course. that the one who struck a
town irst was pretty sure to get all the trade
TINT could he secured ard leave worry few
pickings for tho one who followed. Being
somewhat older IN the business than my
rival managed to keep ahead OF him until
house for considerable amount of money.
and expected TO hnd 1t awaiting me at
that point. was practically stranded when
reached my hotel. and my first inquiry was
Tor the letter that l expected. There was u
letter from tho house. but to my intense dis
gust 1t contained no cheek, and sud simply
that tho boss was away on u little vacation.
and had left no instructions However. knew
the members OF u largo local publishing firm
very well They were among our biggest Gus:
wrath conciuds cd that the tier would come ONE
out al right. The next morning early went
70 En ha ana out o S TIC
learned isRi,I that there was nobody there with
some, minutes didn't Know what TO say it
was concerned. to send on III again to to. chicago
because ! knew that my rival was following
precious. Alter ihinEinr the matter over T"f
made M my mind that there was only ons
thPS ,S to de- sna that Sst the
Keeper and the cashisr Of the firm. and nrs.
the firm that ,repres sntrd very well. but tlut
being my. first Visit to Cleveland. he knew
nothing OF me. Iexpected to have u hard time
MIR smith I said to him-we will take it
for granted that his name was SMITH .ex-
] cume here. but am told they arc all out Of
town. 1t 70 worry important for me- to get
through with my business here to-day and
leave Cleveland tonight. but. unfortunately.
= draft which expected to find hers has bosn
delayed and am. therefore. short Of money.
am well acquainted with them mentioning the
tho frst time have had the pleasure Of meet.
ing you. Now. can tresrass on your kind
f nsss to the extent Of having you cash check
- Hs refused. OF course" interrupted ono Of
his listeners.
That was cert ainly whit ex pected he would
the matter aud nut me Of it would have bsen
have the authority to do 1t in the absence OF
tho firm. But he didn't do anything Of the
kind, Instead he said Immediately. why.
certainly. I'll be only too glad TO be OF SER
vice to you. What Is the amount Two
hundred and ffty dollars said; An right,
amount and COUNTED it out in front Of me;
mine. mind you. and not tho firm name. and
and put 1t away We talksI pleasantly for q
few minutes. and he insisted that l must call
around and take dinner with him in tho even
ing before lett town.
my life. but it Just proves what have said.
Any sroundrsl could have gotten hold Of one
Of tho cards Of my firm and have made the
same representa- ions. showed him no other
authority than the card. Yet the man who
took those chances was. learned alterward.
q mon OF many years, experiencs In business;
highly raid. have no doubt he would have
done the same thing had no been q member Of
the firm"