Evening journal., 1899-05-18
Life on the Road.


~ shaken hands with the book
Keeper, the cashier and the two entry
clerks and had deposited his sample
eases in q corner by the safe and pulled
of his sumptuous fur-llned overcoat,
which he hung on q knob of the letter
cabinet, he seated himself in the junior
partners revolving chair and elevated
his neat shoes TO the plotting pad on
tho desk and said: "How's triclls?
Nothing to growl about" said the
cashier. shaking the ink from his pen
and wiping it carefully on the lining
OF his coat. "We've got about all the
orders we can handle for one while.
guess you can rest up and get acquaint-
ed with your family for the next week
or so.p
"And get started outiagain in time
10 eat Christmas dinner at Jonesboro,
Cross Roads or in the Cining-room at
Watertank Junction. l see my finish
all right. Didn't make dandy trip,
though? What did the boss have to
say about M"
HE didn't say nightingale just
swore," replied the bookkeeper. "Yes,
he did, too. He said that If you hadn't
better sense than TO sdl 10 men like
Bolsinger Bros. and Then L Waite,
people rated Il and M in Dun's last
as long as you've been on the road, he'd
call you in and let you take up your
cd job in the prints. He's gone home
now, but he left word II you showed
up to tell you to come in atnine o'clock
tomorrow morning"
The drummer dropped his'feet from
the desk and started up from his chair
''Dolsinger Bros. rated" Then he
smiled gently and resumed his seat
"Pretty well for yoll," he said. you're
getting funny in your old age ..Smithie
1t hurts my eyes TO look at you, you're
80 bright. I'm going to take you out
with me the next time go to enter
tain customers"
IF you took another man along &c
sell goods you'd be fixed. wouldn't you
You could attend TO tho expense &C
count yourself all right. There's where
the old man gives you the credit your
entitled TO. He says your expense &C
counts are the most artistic things OF
"a grand scale he ever had sent in Il
him. How did you put in that over
coat?"
You're TOO anxious 10 get my job
OF might tell you" said the drummer
opening a penknife and beginning Il
trim his nails. Have you heard tn
/ latest story?"
II have" said the boolskeeper. ''
amt going 10 tell it 10 you for yea
or so. though. You might forget your
self and spring it on somebody, AM
then they'd fall dead. You were talking
about Christmas; where did you ca
your Thanksgiving dinmerY
"Porlaker. Kama bOllar'n a hal
house, and the best in the town at thai
Oh. l had turkey. all right. and crar
berry sauce, too. TO say nothing of
, side dish Of warm tomato juice a J
b oyster cracker. IHt you never saw
= turkey worse treated in the kitche
than that one WAS in yourlife. He wa
, black on the outside. red IA the middl
! and blue at the core. and he had th
sinews Of a heavyweight champion
There was pie. Also" addedythe drum
, mer. looking reheciively al his finge
nails. NO. L don't want 10 talk abot
that pie; l want 10 forget it If car
Ills better thus.
o 81 met a man. though, that day
\ man that was man." resumed Il
Y drummer. This amt no barroom tall
!. I'm handing you the rectilinear. und
! Waiting merchandise. he was anan-
? take Inn for allin,nll. we ne'er sha
: look upon his like again. interrupte
!. enc of the entry clerks. rs there an
curtain raiser TO this. or do we crowd
now and get it over with?"
c WELL said the drummer. Il wal
y 10 tell you that II man knocking abo'
s as I do is apt to gen cynical. His fin
: feelings get the edge worn off. uni
|, you can ride a-straddle of them wit
out experiencing any sense OF diseoi
= fort. He gets so that his ideals Of Il
good and the true and the beautiful 6
a as dim and shado,v1 as South Carolii
e hog. BY the time he's made ten tow
, in seven days ami has 20 send 70
J. pages of closely-written explanation
e ard a quarter of page Of orders on I
!, seventh day he has often come TO I
conclusion that the world is as hollc
$, rs an Edam ch,,ese rind two hour .af;