The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-03
THE PRIZE TRICK OF TRADE.
The Beginning Of The Story Originated In
Raleigh

Two drummers were discussing the
tricks of the trade in the Kimball House
lobby last night, and as usual a number
of good stories enlivened the CONVERSE
ton, says the Atlanta Constitution.
The prize was won by the fat CONNER
cial tourist whose figure has become to
be familiar one around Atlanta.
1.-THE smoothest trick ever worked by
drummer on a competitor that has
ever reached my ears" said he, was
that played by an Irishman named Ben
son, who represented a Chicago coffee
house, on smart young chap named
Moore who was travelling in the interest
OF one of the best known of the New
York coffee houses.
Benson and Moore had met on the
road often, and though they were strong
competitors they had come to be the
best of friends. Each had occasion to
learn of the others shrewdness and con-
sequently each had great respect for the
other.
THE two men met at hotel in Raj
eigh, N c., one night and conversation
developed the fact that they intended to
work the same towns on one of the roads
leading out of Raleigh the next day. AS
the road in question has a splendid pas
senger business they had both counted
on working four towns during the day.
at was in the summer time, and
neither man was anxious for try at
his wits, so when Moore proposed
community Of interests Benson eagerly
accepted his proposition The scheme
outlined by Moore was, in short, for
them to divide the towns on the line.
There were seven towns, the last of
which was the most important. His idea
was that instead of fighting on four
towns during the day and in the three
others the next it would be a good idea
for them to divide the first six and meet
in the seventh at night.
Benson became enthusiastic over the
scheme as he much preferred clean
opening in three towns to a fight In four.
That night he and Moore reached the
seventh town and put up together in
the same room at the leading hotel. Each
had done a good days business but in
order to keep in practice they decided
to fight it out over the business in this
town lthe next morning. This was Moore's
suggestion and it proved entirely ac
ceptable to Benson.
They went to sleep joking each other
about the fight of the next day. Now,
Benson is a very heavy sleeper, but
Moore had promised to wake him at an
early hour. Bensons surprise may be
imagi when he awoke at 10 o'clock
to find Moore gone and the room locked
tight. BY the time he was able to get
out of the room and down town Moore
had sold every merchant in the place and
caught the limited for Raleigh.
oh q
and did no complaining. month or
so later he met Moore in Knoxville, and,
though Moore laughed at him, Benson
had nothing to say. Nearly two years
passed They had met often and Moore
had forgotten the incident and thought
that Benson had, but Benson had been
waiting for an opportunity to get even.
lone day in the summer year or two
ago, when yellow fever was raging on
the gulf coast and shotgun quarantine
had been established in southern Ala
bama. Benson landed in one of the best
towns in that section and learned that
Moore was to arrive the next day.
"He at once saw his opportunity, as
the town authorities were greatly
wrought up over attempts that were be-
ing made to break the quarantine regu-
lations He told them that man who
had been exposed to fever in a Mlssls-
sippi town had declared his Intention to
defy the quarantine. He gave an accu-
rate description of Moore and the Off
?ials began to watch every up train.
when Moore reached the town the
next morning he was promptly nabbed
by the local authorities, who told him
that they would teach him how to DEFY
the quarantine. He was placed in the
pest house and kept there for three days
an the meantime Benson had gotten
the business in every town in the sur
rounding section Before leaVlng tha'
part of the State he wired moore MS
| Concentrations and added that he hac
done it for the sake of old times.