The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-10

i a SsoSSs
clerk at Mawson IS
This outburst rather astonished me,
as you can think. "Well,'' said J.,
"other people don't think quite so
much of me as you seem to do, Mr..
Primer. I had hard enough fight to
get this berth, and | am very glad to
Pooh, man; you should soar above
it. You are not in your true sphere.
Now, I'll tell you how it stands with
me. What have to offer is little
enough when measured by your ability,
but when compared with Mawson's, it 8
light to dark. Let. me see. When do
you go to Mawson SO"
"On Monday"
".Ha, ha! think T would risk lit
tie sporting ,tlutter that you don't go
| there at all.
tNot 90 to Mawson 1877 s.
Ono, sir BY that day you will be
the business manager of the Francn-
Midland Hardware Company, Limited,
with a hundred and thirty-four
branches in the towns and villages Of
France, not counting one in Brussels
and one in San Reno
This took my breath away. 81 never
heard of it, said I.
every likely not. It has been kept
very quiet, for the capital was all pri-
'vately subscribed, and it's too good a
thing to let the public into. My broth
er, Harry Primer, is promoter, and joins
the board after allotment, as managing
director. He knew I was in the swim
down here, and asked me to pick up q
good man cheap. A young, pushing
man with plenty of snap about him.
Parker spoke of you, and that brought
me here tonight. We can only offer you
"F'ive hundred year!' I shouted.
"Only that at the beginning; but
you are to have an overriding commits
sion of 1 per cent on all business done
by your agents, and you may take my
word for it that this will come to more
than your salary
"But I know nothing about hard
ware''
''T,ut, my boy; you know about fig
My head buzzed, and I could hardly
sit still in my chair. But suddenly a
little chill Of doubt came upon me.
~ must be frank with you,'' said I.
"Mawson only gives me two hundred,
but Mawson is safe. Now, really, [
know 50 little about your company
/ that
"Ah, smart, smart!' he cried, in a
kind Of ecstasy Of delight. "You are
the very man for us. You are not to be
Il talked over, and quite right, too. Now,
here's a note for hundred pounds,
} and if you think that we can do bust.
ness you may just slip it into your peck.
ct as an advance upon your salary
THAT is very Handsome said
'When should [ take over my new dvl-
ties?' ..-
|, "Be in Birmingham tomorrow at ], -
said he. IT have a note in my pocket
here which you will take to- my brother
You will find him at 126b Corporation
, Street, where the temporary offices OF
the company are situated. OF course
, he must confirm your engagement, but
between ourselves it will be all right.
Really, 1 hardly know how to ex
''Not at all, my boy. You have only
got your deserts. There are one or tw,
small things mere formalities-whicl
$ | must arrange with you. You have i:
$ bit of paper beside you there. Kindly
write upon it L am perfectly willing tl
' act as business manager to the Franco
Midland Hardware Company, Limited
at a minimum salary of $780, -
did as he asked, and he put the pa
t per in his pocket. -
!. 'There is one other detail,'' said he
t "What do you intend to do about Nav
= I had forgotten all about Mawson'
: IN my joy. "1'll write and resign,
| said I. ~ =
e "Precisely what I don It want you tt
T Go. l had row over you with Nav
! sons manager. I had gone up to ash
!, him about you,- and he was very OF
= away from the service of the firm, ant
K that sort Of thing. At last fairly los
= my temper. If you want good me1
YOU, should pay them good price,
said I:
| 1,r'on +lo, I. J i l.,
a "t I'll lay you a fver,' said I, tina
when he has my offer you III never 81
l. much as hear from him again
"'Done'' said he I'VE picked hin
out Of the gutter, and he won't leav
= us SO easily Those. were his yer,
"'The impudent scoundrel!O cried
Y my life. Why should I consider him il
il any way? I shall certainly not write i
Z you would rather I didn 't.''
h "Good! That's promise,'' said he
rising from his chair. "Well, I I'm de
S. lighted to have got so good man 70
e my brother. Here IS your advance of
7 hundred pounds, and here is the letter
is Make a note of the address, 126b Coz
poration Street, and remember that
g. O clock tomorrow is your appointment
Y. Good-night; and may you have all tn
le fortune that you deserved
I'll That's just about all that passed be
tween us, as near as can remember
st You can imagine, DR.. Watson, no,
/ pleased I was at such an extraordinar
- bit Of good-fortune. sat up half tn
:! night hugging myself over it, and mex
r that would take me in plenty time fo
my appointment. I took my things t
10 hotel in New Street, and then I mad
- my way to the address which had bee
- given me.
1t was a quarter of an hour befor
my time, but I thought that woul
!. make no difference; l26b was pa
is sage between two large shops, whic
IL led to a winding stone stair, fro,
" which there were many flats, let as 81
7 ANTI rTr ~ TApnp pTrr