Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-10-06

l OF lQTee -UuuuIeu uOIo on uy OuLuL'
s. W msrsn are you ' going g to do asked
" "Peddle," replied Herman sententi-
ously, until 1 can make enough to buy
a store" ,..a .'.t g. TN N.sg
"Oh, come now, you are doing better
than any young man we have ever
had, expostulated Hope. "Don'tt make
fool of yourself. You will be head
of a department in a few years"
Thank you, sir" replied Herman.
II wouldn't stay for a job as general
Manager. l am going in for myself.
1 have learned all can az subordi-
nate. - '@.""-
And that was all there was to It.
Herman started out with his wagon.
He made good selections of merchan-
disc and his sales were beyond his
hopes Within two years he had piled
up $4,000. Then he ran across store
in small town which Yves for sale.
| The owner had made a failure, but
Herman thought he saw why. he
bought it, paying part down. In two
years he was out of debt and doing
business that was the wonder Of all the
country about The town had only
Is 900 inhabitants and Herman chafed
at the limitations. He found pur.
chaser at fancy price, and at % went
back to the city with $4,000 in his
pocket.
He then started jobbing business
To- hxy
able energy and application began to
make inroads in the business of the
larger houses. He did we'll from the
first, but his resources were so limited
that he could not move fast enough to
suit his ardent spirit. Then Norris,
Hopes partner, died and Hope sent for
him.
Corning, you are q wonder" he
said. II need such man as you. Be-
sides you are cutting into our business
will take you in and sell you quar-
ter interest, at whatever the business
inventories, take over your stock at
what it inventories as part payment
and your note for the balance. You
can pay out Of the profits. You can
handle the business as manager and
will look after the finances"
This was a great lift, but it only fed
Corning's ambition. Still he was not a
dominating factor in the business world
and he found after year or so that
he must remain subordinate to Hope,
whose conservative methods drove him
to distraction. He wanted to lead,
Hope was content to run along smooth
ly on the old lines. Besides he was
not making money fast enough to suit
him. TO be sure his share of the year.
ly profits ran way UP in the thousands,
but he could not see how he ever could
become a power in the financial world
at the rate he was going.
While he was struggling with these
problem Hopes health failed. Know
ing Cornings daring disposition he did
not dare go away, as the physicians
ordered, and leave the young man In
charge of the entire business. Finally,
threatened with death, he offered tc
sell his interest at a very reasonable
sum if Corning could find a hacker.
While the sum was reasonable consid-
ering the value Of the business, it was
vast amount for a young man to
raise. All of Corning's profits had gone
into paying for his quarter interest.
In the meantime Corning had made
one or two social connections. One was
Peter Holdbrook, wealthy retail mer-
chant, with whom he had come into
business relations and who had ad-
talent. He had invited Corning to his
home several times and had presented
his daughter, frail, rather pretty girl,
whose strength of character, if she
ever had any, had been eliminated by
her fathers dominant methods.
Just about this time Peter Holdbrook
died and his daughter had called on
Herman for advice, knowing that her
father had trusted him. The girl was
the sole relative and heir and the re-
sponsibility of the great estate fright.
ened her.
To Herman came great inspiration.
He would marry this pale-faced girl,
who would be putty in his hands. This
would give him money enough to buy
out Hope, besides making him master
of the great Holdbrook store He would
combine the two businesses and make
himself the greatest factor in the bust
ness world. There was sincere pang
at the thought Of Hannah, because, be.
sides having a real affection for her,
Herman had made her a part of his
scheme OF life and his nature revolted
at changing his plans. But he saw no
| other way and within two months h
had married Lillian Holdbrt,ok. and
soon after became absolute master of
two great stores, one wholesale and one
retail. @ET "E '&.
The rest the business world knows
well-how he reversed the cid policies
and struck out into new methods with
daring which stunned all observers:
how the business grew until Herman
Corning was recognized the world over
as one of the greatest merchant
nrinces: how he branched into other