The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-09-02


Col. Peter Green sat at his desk il
the local offices of the Vulnerable In
surance Company at Cornerstone. The
ColonePs commanding bulk, as he die
tated in a husky staccato to the stenog
rapher al his elbow, suggested body
of conceit wholly surrounded by fat
He prided himself on his fnesse, his
business strategy. his ability TO over
step point of ethics in order to COM
PASS point of advantage. He nkeneo
himself to Napoleon; but the managers
clerks and office boys who danced the
carpet at his bidding were more apt to
compare him with Nero.
A confidential clerk entered with a
card.
Thomas Devinney, Jr., representing
the Patriotic Art Co., read the Colonel
with something between whistle and
a snort. Representing the He
turned suddenly to the clerk, who back
ed away alphabetically. 'Is that
young-rascal outsider"
Eyes, sir, I think so, SIR responded
the clerk. stroking feeble side-Whiskers
above a pale cheek.
Think So do you? Send him in"
A tall young man closed the door
carefully behind him, removed his
pearEgrey, flat-crowned hat and stood
waiting. The magnate continued sort
ing over the letters on his desk, not
looking up. His stenographer, who sat
patiently waiting with tab on knee,
regarded the youth with plying inter
est. He was twenty and good looking,
clad in a suit of loose-f1tting tweeds
whose just-out-of-college cut added
pathos to his pose of careful uncon-
Germ.
Col Green continued to present a
broad back and bullying neck. The
youth shifted from one polished shoe
to the other.
"Weil!' finally Numbered from the
unmoving bulk, "whae do you want
there? What?"
The young man opened portfolio, |!
disclosing several colored portraits of
General u. S. Grant. These he pre-
scented, thrusting the pile close under /
the nose of the preoccupied Colonel
His speech suggested a recitation well +
learned and oft repeated.
'T am representing the Patriotic Art
Company, sir, and having in mind
your well-known admiration for our
greatest General; knowing, in fact,
your sentiments as a veteran of the
Civil War, as well as an art connois-
seur, p
Hold on!" roared the Colonel, look
ing suddenly up. 81 don't know you,
young man. but I knew your father. .
and I think it's pretty business for
a son of Tom Devinney to be hawking ,
,hromos around insurance Offices !
Perhaps you have a better position :.
to offer me. Colonel Green" suggested !.
young Devinney with the impudence of
q runner who has gained his second !,
wind. /.
The elderly man ignored the hint. st I,
knew your father-Iiked him, too, al :
though I don't think he had enough
business sense to gum envelopes. What
lie called his sense of honor was what 1
ailed him. Went under of course, as
my mans bound to do who don't play Il
he game. Cut throat or be cut, young
nan, that's what you've got to learn.
50 you're selling pictures, hey? What Y
got you into that" t
well, you see. when I got out Of
college they offered me job with this v
picture proposition. I thought n
hey'd offer me the presidency and give
ne chance to start at the top and Il
work downward. But there wasn't any h
at the top-there's always g
Dom at the bottom
HurnH said Col. Green, pursuing bis
at lips. $50 you think you'll make a t
business men. Sit down there and show 3
ne how you'll go at it to sell me a
r
The youth resumed his recitation, be- n
ginning at the beginning.
Il am representing the Patriotic Art I
CONT" n
"Stop!. commanded the Colonel, up
,olding the hand of authority. ''You c
AVE said that before" II
well knowing your local reputation c
IS an art connoisseur''- =