The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-06-30

facts, didn't seem to impress my quOn-
dam friend in the manner thought it
would. He only smiled and handed
the card back again.
"I'm with old man Snooks," said he;
"Snooks of st. Louis, and I'm peddling
hardware. Ever been through here
before?"
"No," said I, ''thIs is new territory
for me-" He was onto me all right
but l wouldn't own up.
"Where'd you travel before?" he
asked.
"South," said 1, and so had when l
once visited a maiden aunt in my
school days.
"Poor country that" said he; "too
long winded, and want too much cred
it. Dye stop at Memphis ?"
"No," said 1.
"Oh, then you went the other route ?
How'd you find Norfolk ?"
was getting in hot water, for my
female relative had lived in Kentucky.
"Pretty nice place. said l.
"Do big business9"
"Pretty big" said l, wishing the
train would be wrecked.
"Slow place." continued my torment
or; "Richmond's better"
ooh, much better-by the way" said
I, hoping to change the subject, "what
time have you:"
He pulled his watch out and said in
one breath: "Ten eighteen where'd
you stop in Richmond?"
"Across from the depot" 1 hazarded.
"Whatw he yelled, "you didn't stop
at that internal hole did you?"
81 had to, they bought from u.s." re-
piled.
"Do you mean to say that the i'm
porting firm of Baggs & Jaggs sold to
that bum hotel?"
could only gurgle, "Um hun. )"
Luckily for me, the train was stopping
at my first town and saying good bye,
l left the train.
AS the bunch of bus drivers hovered
about, tried to appear unconcerned,
and handed my grips to the nearest
man. Of course it was my luck to get
into the worst looking vehicle at the
platform.
had hoped the man would pilot me
into that fancy equipage with rubber
tires and bevel-edged glass windows
for l wished to impress two giggling
maidens that were watching me, with
the fact that they were beholding the
Travelling Salesman for Baggs &
Jaggs, Importers, New York! AS il
was they saw me get into the dilapi
: dated coach of the American House
81 day with free coach to the depot
and sample room in connection. The
) bony horses languidly pulled the coacf
/ up the street. l was the solitary pas
senger, if you except three little raga
, mullins stealing ride on the real
} steps. The American House so sci
dom secured guest that the driver
, knew the Importance of showing mi
to the populace. He drove leisurely
past the post Office, then turned th'
| corner of the main street, at which
? point was the good hotel and wher'
[ its up to date conveyance was unload
ing It's passengers. Having driven M
|. all around town to prove to the citi
, zens that the American House wa
still able to secure victim, the driv
, or coolly retraced our route ant
stopped in front of the hostelry o
y national name if not fame.
r It was Saturday morning. My lin
was groceries. Every grocery stor
: was filled with housewives buying
{ Sundays dinner and gossipping. From
) one end of the main street to the other
J. I walked. Rapidly too, for it woul'
n never do to let any one suspect that
: had never tried to take an order fo
!. goods. Ten minutes quick walking
: and commenced to see corn fields a
4 the edge of town, so crossed over an
d came back on the other side Of tn
Q street. I had list of the grocers an
d as passed each one 1 mentally checke
Y him off. "Here's Moneys" said
q land Browns, and Gordon's an
l. Lemont's," etc.
IS But my nerve failed. A week agt
]. in my room interviewed big firm
)" with perfect equanimity. had sol
lf TO the imapinary firm of RDbinsOn 4