The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-01-01
MISS HANNAH. BUYER



didn't matter what his Zine" was. be al
ways got the trade and held Il tin some en-
terprising manufacturer offered him high
er salary and sent him forth to new tri.
umphs with different display Of sam.
pies. That was In the old days, Of course
before nearly every speciality fell into
the hands OF some trust--in the good old
palmy days when q commercial traveller
had TO be something more than sand.
wich man or a distributor Of circulars 70
succeed
Oliphant won with every branch Of the
trade, and as he rambled leisurely over the
incompatible land Of the afternoon"
made for himself plans Of the future,
which contemplated settling down in his
iaVonte town with his favorite girl to
spend the afternoon and evening Of his life
IN the calm avoidance Of hotels, time Ia
bles, price lists and route schedules.
Perhaps Il was natural sequence, but
anyway II waa oliphant'a luck to find that
the best girl he knew lived In the very
town upon which he had set his heart.
The town was Hermosa, a picture VII
lage nesting in the mountains lap. The
girl was Hannah Trip, buyer. bookkeep-
er, partner and general manager Of one Of
the two general stoses Of the town.
For nearly ten years she had been one OF
his best customers. From his first visit he
had never failed to get from Hannah an
order for hardware, woodenwAre, china
ware, druggists aundries, paint and putty
or whatever happened 70 be In his "line."
Old man Trip, her father, left all the
buying TO her, and so far as 0liphant knew
she was as shrewd as she was pretty, and
as good a hnaneier as she was good
housekeeper. The rival store Of Hermosa
was kept by Ike Axelstein, weazen huck-
ster OF forbidding mien, who had not
bought 500 worth from 0lpihAnt in as
many months.
The good.natured Oliphant, who loved
Hsnnah'a tl'sl LOYALTY best ~ all har sood
quanties, had wooed her IN the most nuFu-
mantle and most rational way, and, old
man Trip having been kept out VI the -.
cret for reasons which Hannah kept TO
herself, abe had promised 10 name the
wedding day, when, by fortuitous com.
bination, her lover had made up his mind
to quit the road and her father had made
up his mind 10 quit business.
| At last one day, after an absence Of six
months, 0liphant walked into the store Of
Trip 4 Co., and for the FIRST time found
the old man enthroned on the high stool
behind the cashiers desk.
where's Miss Hannahw chirped the
rosy travelling man, after they had ex
changed situations.
Left for Denver this morning." said
Trip, sliding his speetacles down TO the
end Of his nose, ''but we don't want moth
IN nohow Fact Is. made up my mind
Z sell out. l."
Sell Ous" sasped oliphant. why, l
didn't know-why didn't you tell me-"
"Yep; sci out, that's what. And Han.
ss.'s gone TO Denver for TO be school
teacher"
"why, thought you never would sell
out, Trip" Olphant was saying. 81
thought Jour heart was 50 set on this
AN . twas growled Trip. Il
thought aanner never made no mistakes
an l left tho buyin' all TO her. Jest look
here, 0Iirhant."
The ole fellow got of HE stool and led
the way back into the musty wareroom,
where he stood In melancholy sclemnity
pointing 70 piles and rows OF dust.covered
woodep gare, ehinaware. hardware, drug
gists iundries, paint and putty.
"Thtree 5000 ruth o them burned |
things" said Trip. Lord knows what |
made Hammer buy 'em. But she did, an |
WHAT more. she paid for 'eln, an stood |
of tHe firms which was sellin US live
goods"
Olithant's eyes were bulging a. he
strolltd amongst the mountains Of dead
stock" Il was all his goods. Hannah had
not snly bought from him, out had paid
his louse aud let others wait for their
pay. Il /
That there's the reason why I'm agoia'
10 sell out" said Trip, ebut tie Hammers
goin' TO taown that worrits me most. She
cried lise q baby when We went over them
invoices an looked over what We owe.
WHY, the best price I can sit for the store
won't more'n pay what We owe, an III
pay Il I've got to die in the porchouse"
Oiphant heard no more, said no more
tin the old chap asked;
''What sfe you zellin' this timei"
Nothing. Trip, nothing. Fact :,
iasl Trip. did you know that Axelstein
uas selling outl"
'res. knowed il. Hes sellin' out be
eua he's TOO rich for Hermosa an I'm sell
ING out becaz I'm too pore"
siie'a seld out, Trip. Sold out this
mdsninE*
Bot Wonder who bought himg Some
othlr skinflint, reckon
Jbss then Hannah, pale. tired and lug.
sinl big telescope valise. came in, stared
; second At 0liphant, gave him her hand
and sai down on a soap box.
missed my train, papa was all she
Glad Of il, HanaeF.s said Trip.
! fre's Oliphant been telling that old Az
q ei. has done sold hh store. Wonder
wlo hosght it."
why, be bought Il, papa Mr.. 0liphant
hoIShtit himself not two hours ago. Ia
II over te.n." Hannah's blue eyes re-
sardsd her loser bit reproaohiully aa she
aid this. Perhaps she Has thinking Of
De dead stock in the NaTeropm; perhaps
lle was wondering VIZ b didn't at least
alsko bid On her fathers atore. The big
Illlow, with bic back 70 Ehs door, was do
e a little thinkine -. 0raduslly .
.nile spread over Bis Zee - he began TO
hvine the reaaon WHY Haaaah missed her
rain. but fhfa In wsk&s hA I'D.