The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-05
TIE EVENING STORY


too"
The sample room of the Hotel Went
worth was filed with neatly arranged
cry goods samples, among which the
young woman moved, calm and conf
dent Behind her trotted old Epton,
the best customer he had in Went
/ worth. The little circle embracing
each corner of the old mans thin lips
showed that he was pleased, too. shes
sold him, or m a Dutchman, was
Covington's thought as he backed out
of the door he had so airily opened
moment before, land that means I've
got to work; for the man, woman or
child who can sell Epton under
years acquaintance is a wonder. Well,
it's the back sample room for mine,
and hustle to snare the rest of them
before she gets done with Epton."
His eye caught a big black sample
case in the hall. ''Jim Dunkley's
trunk III bet a dollar booze got the
best Of Jim, and they've given this wo-
man his territory
Ignoring the grinning clerk, who had
seen Covington advance on the sample
room like a conquering hero, he
scanned the register. Yes, there it
was Miss Cecil Gardner, Chicago
The signature was very like the young
lady herself-trim, neat, capable, and
yet almost appealingly feminine.
AS he laid out his samples in the
poorly lighted back sample room, Cow
1ngtOn pondered resen1ully upon the
depravity of the firm of Stern & Sulz-
mann, which would fire good, easy
picking like Jim Dunkley, and give his
place to a woman-what was worse, to
a woman who knew her business.
Slamming the door viciously, Coving-
ton started out to round up the other
dry goods men OF the town.
He returned in half an hour, even
more resentfuI than before. Miss
Gardner evidently believed in the early
bird theory, for she had already sod
good bills to all three dealers. Coving-
ton met Epton on the hotel steps He
/ knew the case was hopeless, but he
greeted his former customer cordially
"Sovrv can't do any business with you
this time. Mr.. Covington," said the
merchant when the preliElirarie~ had
been disposed of but Miss Gardner
had what wanted You are just lit
tie too late" Covingtcn felt like kick
ing the big s. & S. sample case that
/ leered at him III the hallway.
When Covington tossed his grip into
the bus after dinner, he found MISS
Gardner already ensconced in corner
| Of the vehicle
During the ride to the railway sta
ton, he discovered by oblique glances
that she was even prettier than he had
imagined Her profile was good her
complexion beautiful and real, her lips
superlatively pretty 'Tommyrot!
snorted CovingtOn to himself, when ne
saw where his reflections had LED hlfn
He began planning how to outwit MISS
he knew that she surely would stop
there.
Experience tod at Essig, and Coving-
ton sold big bills to the two dealers IN
the thriving little town. 1t was MISS
Gardeners turn to depart without an
| order There was something more imam
the mere indifference of a stranger IN
her manner when they were bus COM
panions once more, this time Tor el le
evening train to Tilton. The atmosphere
| was so chilly that Covington. Ielt IKE
blowing On his fingers
| The f1rst day was a counterpart OF
most of the days that followed TOT w
months Occasionally, COVtnEton slae
| trims 70 small towns which Miss card
ner did not make would keep them otat
! of each others way Tor a time. oOoli
Covineton found himself planning 70
avoid these side trips by having the
/ o,,sto,,,are come at the expense Of the
h0use. to the larger points On MS Iouts.
| stOther fellows do it,, he argued,
/ makes good feeling to give them a httle
/ holiday and it doesn't cost much more
| - ~ livery hire" He never once
1 adroitted that a growing 1nchhalloll 70
| 80 -ae ,,o4Icf as possible of Miss Gardner
had ANYTHING to do with the matter.
| The situation certainly had us "a
! hacks They became acquaAAteo' u
| oo,7rea Miss Gardner told him OF ner
6rst employment in stern q SUI s-4
nann's as a stenographer; now sIau ~
a1lv she had been detailed 10 Wall On
! t1,a smaller customers WIN Se-AA-O ~
he CITY for their goods, and now me
arm quick to note her natural aDiAlly
as a saIeswoman, had given her L'lllse-
| 1evss place on trial when thal SSlltle
mans failings could no longer De over
P1lt there were no pleasant little
chats when Miss Gardner failed IN a
town. Between stations on these IN
comfortable feeling that II was
cowardice to make war on a woman
usually occupied a seat in the smoker,
| while a very discouraged MISS cara
after a particularly disastrous day, he
saw tear fall on the page OF ms
fair onponent's book He laid down,
fagrantly and completely, Tor the
next four towns only aWakenlns 70
the mass his chivalry had brought MN
/ when the house, in sarcastic letter
suggested that he was out after or
ders, and not on a pleasure trip, as
he seemed to imagine.
cts all right to sit there IN the
! Office and scaII' a fellow" he unused,
/ bitterly sebut I'd like to see one or
| them up against the same SITUATION
! It isn't like having a man to deal with.
| A man will grin and buy drink When
YOU do him good and hard. but he
/ Law awake nights until he gets back at
you He doesn't go away and cry all
| by himself as If he hadn't a friend on
earth I'm not doing any business,
and I know it; but if I let myself out,
/ CeciT'-he always thought of her as
/ Cecil-"will lose her job. And II
| don't let myself out III lose mine. I
guess" He rubbed his homely bOyish
face in perplexity. I'm sure I cant
see the finish
Dick Harpin's bus at Barton Center
was the factor which provided
violent but satisfactory solution to
Covington's problem. Harpin's bus
was a standing jest among the travel
ing fraternity It was as old. apDar-
but it's age was not so honorable, for
the bus was rieltety and dishgured
It was nippy February morning
climbed into the bus for the long cold
ride uptown. The driver unlocked the
weight strap and stepped back At that
rraciso r,nor1aaraf I-aar, mind rr.l,irlaa