The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1903-08-15


zled air Of clever man who has just
lost his watch. His expression indi.
Gated a mixed feeling Of amazemcn
and amusement. He seemed to have
Eeen let in On the ground fe,or of scme
gilt-edged humorous mystery. From
the fact that he was lovingly placing q
fair sized roll ct bills In his pockets
the business appeared already to be
paying dividends.
And you will engage two other men
to follow you in your calls" remarked
Skidmore in co. ~clusson, "and all three
of you must call on every man whose
address l have given you"
Mr.. Skidmore," said McBooth, In a
full round voice, you may count upon
me, SIR" McBooth appeared to be re-
freshed by the sound Of his voice, and
he left the Office with brisk and de-
termined air
1t is a significant fact, from q socio-
| logical point Of view, that counting
upon man can generally be arranged
by counting out to him a little legal
tender and there are men VINO for a
sufficient emolument may be counted
upon either under the Arabic or the
Roman style Of mbering.
=
Wellman, the purchasing agent of
the L. & M. R. R. Company, sat in his
Office surrounding by the halo Of his
purchasing dignity. He was of a
haughtiness as becomes a man whose
poorest joke will convulse a melan-
choly salesman into hysterical mirth.
He was Of rotundity eminently pro-
per in the case Of man who never
dimes at his own expense. Wellman
glanced up as stranger in a frogged
overcoat and unshaved chin jauntily
entered the room and laid down a
card.
Hello, Wellman," said the stranger.
my name Is Whittleby. I've got a
new line of railway supplies that I'm
going to show you pretty soon." He
placed his feet upon Wellman's desk
and lit an offensive cigar. Last one
I've got or I'd ask you to join me-" he
mentioned with charming breeziness
Of manner. Nov them
Look here" interrupted Wellman,
with icy indignation, you get out OF
here!"
Go to thunder" said the visitor,
violently.
"You get out of here of I'll have you
thrown out" howled Wellman, in a
strident crescendo. The visitor arose,
violently under Wellman's outraged
nose, and left tho room with violent
slam Of the door.
Mr. Wellman had two other callers
In rapid succession. Each claimed to be
Mr.. Whittleby. Each had new line of
railway supplies. One pretended to find
in Wcllman an acquaintance made In
the Cook county Jail. The other en-
dearingly referred to the dignitied Mr..
Wellman as Fatty" and narrowly es-
capped with his life. Wellman finally
called In an able-bodied longshoreman
and hid him behind a screen.
"Just wait till they try to work that
on me again." he muttered hoarsely.
"I'll give 1t to them"
Although Wellman was hardly in a
churchly condition of mind, it may be
mentioned that he had never before
felt SO forcefully the truth Of that well
known saying regarding the compara-
tive merits OF giving and receiving.
Skidmore sat in his room at the AL
bertl, gazing at the photograph of the
girl In red. He had the rapt expression
Of man who has unexpectedly had his
wages doubled. A knock sounded on
the door, and Whittleby limped into
the room-the bona fidc Whittleby, the
Whittleby whom Skidmore had met on
the liner.
Whittleby looked like man who has
seen much in a remarkably short space
OF time. His clothing was disarranged.
A pair Of smoked glasses loudly called
the public's attention TO the fact that
the wearer had pair Of eyes that had
been artistically decorated by a mas
ter hand
whats the matter?" asked Skid
more. incredulously. House fall on
you?"
This Ia tough country" remarked
with much heat. blouse
fall on me? No. I've been canvassing
business, that's all. Called at about
twenty places and none Of them would
even look at my line. They all ordered
me out before I could open my mouth.
Last Office I struck was Wellman's, of
the L. & NJ. r. r. Co. AS soon as l
told my name aud business, big long /
shoreman pounced from behind a
screen and ne rolled down stairs to-
scther." He paused bitterly. "You will |
remember that you asked me on the |
steamer whether / would sell the |
American rights OF my invention. Do |
you think you could find purchaser?"
There arc three certain professional
gentlemen who often think OF that |
curious episode in their dramatic ca
GERS when they called at list OF Of
ices and made themselves objection
lblc under the assumed name Of Mr.
,Vhittlcby.
There is certain longshoreman who