The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-05-12
Mr.. Bakers Little Game.
By CHARLES B. LEWIS.
Copyright, 1885.

"
jewelry house of Tappan, Frisbie e. Co.,
had the management of three sales
men who were kept constantly on the
road. All were old in the service of
the house before | came into the firm,
and there was little or nothing l could
tell them about their business.
A road salesman or drummer for
a jewelry house occupies a different
position from any other. A bond is
generally required, but in no case does
it cover the cost of the goods he takes
out. He not only takes orders to be
filled at the house, but he sells from
his own stock. He must not only be a
man in whom the utmost confidence
can be placed regarding his honesty,
but he must he up to all sorts of games
and lodges and be able to save him
self from sharpers or worse. Schemes
to plunder jewelry salesmeE are al
most as common as the orders he
takes.
One OF our trayelers-a man named
Joseph Bryan-carried only diamonds,
and most of them were unset. He not
only found customers in retail jewelers.
and small manufacturers, but he sold
the loose gems TO many outsiders.
Among gamblers and race track men
an unset diamond, if first guaranteed
by responsible house always passes
for its full value. Bryan carried his
stock in a body belt made for the pur-
pose and the belt never left him day
CT night. He never came in off a trip
without story of some scheme to get
the best of him, but these attempts
only made him the sharper to take
care of his own.
One day in midsummer, when Bryan
was fitting out for a long trip, a gen
t!eman came into the house and gave
his rame as S. Walter Baker. He was
fire-looking, middle-aged man, and
had an air of prosperity about him.
lie was an Englishman, he said,
though he did not look it or betray it
IN his speech, and was making a tour
OF the country. He wanted few loose
diamonds for a special object, ard he
bought $4,000 worth before he left the
store. waited on him personally and
found him very pleasing stranger.
lie limited at further orders before he
left, and as it was my luncheon hour,
when he was ready to go we went out
together and he pressed me to be his
guest. During the brief meal our talk
was altogether about gems and sales
men, and when we shook hands at
parting Mr.. Baker knew the name Of
our diamond salesman. the route he
was to take and the day of his depar-
ture. saw no good reason why |
shouldn't answer all questions put to
me.
Mr.. Baker returned to the store
couple of days later and made another
purchase amounting to $1,000. Bryan
happened to be in and they were in
troduced, and this time it was our
salesman who went out to lunch with
the stranger. He found him a pleas
ant, agreeable man, as | had, and il a
fourth man had suggested that Mr..
Baker vas putting up 4 job on us we
should have laughed him TO scorn.
Three or four days later Bryan left for
the west, and Oh this trip his belt con-
tanned something like $4,000 worth of
unset gems-rubies, diamonds, emer-
aids, sapphires, etc. He had been in
Cincinnati two days, and had made no
sales, when he ran across Mr.. Baker on
the street. Mr.. Baker hurt his feelings
little by being slow to recognize him
and having to ask for his name, but he
rendered his apologies and expressed
ms qualification at the accidental meet
ing.
Mr.. Baker was in Cincinnati looking
up long lost cousin. The cousin had |
been lost so long that ne advertised |
in the papers for information. For the
rext three days the two men were
rather "chummy." The Englishman
was rich and we'll bred, but not
naughty. He liked the democratic ways
ot America, aud it was no let-down for
nm to chum with a salesman on a
salary of $4,000 year. Bryan found
business slow in Cincinnati and sold |
'niy $1,000 worth of goods. AS he made
ready to go to ST. Louis Mr.. Baker de-
cided to accompany him. His long-lost
relative had not been heard of in the
;ity under the hills, but some trace OF
nlm might be found further west. They
Icok the same train and at ST. Louis
stopped at the same hotel. While our
man was visiting the jewelers., Mr..
BAKER was advertising again. So
anxious had he become that he now
ohered $500 reward for information.
At the end of four days, having made
'niy few small sales, Bryan decided
% leave for Chicago. The Englishman
y nrst decided to go to indianapolis,
"here he had an old acquaintance in
BUSINESS, but later on he said he had
received hint that his cousin had
'een heard of in Chicago, and so he
!, vas ready tc accompany our man to
lae Lake city. 1t was the same train
'Ho the same hotel again, and the
of Mr.. Baker in regard to
,'gars, luncheons, ETC., was uneaualed.
ne prayed his part as stranger to the
ountry 10 perfection, and his note ,
0ook and pencil we're in his hand often ,
8 .nan IN mis- pocket His first move !
! 3 chicago was to engage a lawyer to