The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-24
AN ANGEL UNAwAREs.
The Mistake of n Drummer That Put
Him to Shame, But Did
Him No Harm.

"The first time 1 made Philadcl-
phia trip for my firm l had funny
experience" said the furniture drum
mer in the lobby of the Bingham
house, according to the Philadelphia
Public Ledger. II was green then, SO
far as this market was concerned, and
didn't know Tom, Dick or Harry. All
had to go by was list of the trade
and explicit instructions to sell tho
old-fas hioned, wayback firm of B. &
Co., if possible. They were as rich
as Croesus, bat harder to crack than
an ivory nut, SO there was special en-
phasis on the word if possible
Il came down on the 1925 and
spread out my baggage as much as
could, in order to keep the whole
seat for myself, or if compelled to
share it to give room only to some
one who looked congenial You fell
lows know how to work that scheme.
And if your companion happens to be
one of the fair sex you are, in luck,
but l wasn't in luck that morning, at
least didn't think so, for my neigh
Dor turned out to be grabbed old
gent, who looked like second edi-
ton of Scrooge, the tight-fsted part
ner of Marley, in one of Dickens
tales.
well, this Scrooge and I got to
talking together after awhile, and l
told him was going to make rec
ord for myself on that trip by SELL
ing big bill to B. g. Co.
"'Do you think you will?' he asked.
"'Not on your life,' said I. B. &
Co. don't do enough buying to keep
warm. Seems to me they are dying of
dry rot And then l got my hammer
out and began to knock. why, look
here; we've got line that everybody
bought this season, but not B. & Co.
Oh, no, not them! They don't know
good thing when they see it. jerks,
the cod who buys for them, ought to
be in an old ladies' home. He's lob
ster for fair and craw]s backward,
like crab
''Well, 1 raked jerks fore and aft,
and when l got through pouring in
the hot shot the old gent asked quiet
ly: is that your candid opinion OF
this buyer?'
Lord, MOI said I. I've never seen
the old guy in my life. What I'm tell
ing you is the opinion of my firm, and
it ought to know
"Then the train reached Philadel-
phia, and as we got out at Broad street
I left my friend at the station.
'That afternoon, after good din
ner, and feeling pretty nervy, started
with my sample photographs for B. g.
Co. The buyers office is in the rear,
and when l pushed open the door,
Great Scott! l thought I'd faint, for
there, seated at the desk, was my
railroad friend-Jenks, the buyer.
did I feel cheap? Say, l don't
really know how felt. My first i'm
pulse was to slam the door and escape,
but he called to me very kindly: Well,
sir, what can do for you?' and then
retreat was out of the question.
"Would you believe it, he never let
on that he knew me? Urea ted me like
total stranger, and the apology that
was on my lips l very wisely smoth-
cred. Not word did he say about the
meeting on the train or what I had
said about him. But he ordered a
good bill; shook hands with me cor
daily; said he was glad I had called,
and gave me perfecto when l left
him.
"You see, I had unconsciously held
a mirror UP to him, and he wasn't
pleased with the reflection and wanted
|
ny, wasn't it? That's the only time
can remember ever entertaining an
angel unawares."