The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-05-18

Eyes. sir. Didn't you order it,"
"Well-yes, l did order it, Burrell
but"
TT got there all right say. we've
got sal-soda on the street, eal-soda on
the ground floor, sal-soda upstairs;
there's more OF 1t out on the platform
thatll have to go OF the roof, | guess,
You know that storehouse amt any
great shakes for size. anyway, and 1t
was ear full before" protested the
old man; but those blamed trucks
have been blocking traffic since nine
O'Clock. and dumping sal-soda till"
What time did they stop?"
Il guess it was about quarter TO
twelve, John"
That's right. I'll swear I never
thought they'd deliver it." sighed
Hewes. "Well-put 1t wherever you
can, Burrell."
The painful superfuity of soda upon
his hands pursued John Hewes
through Thursday morning; and when
after lunch Cowles' card was brought
him, he felt no proper cordially.
What the devil had he come for. any
way? Was 1t to enjoy a brief seance
Of politely yelled gloating?"
But the junior partner Of Caxton &
Cowles wore a frown Of annoyance as
he entereu.
Il suppose you've got it In for me,
Mr.. Hewes?"
Hey? Wny?" Hewes asked alb
ruptly.
What! Hadn't your people put in a
kick about 1t, down at the ware
house?"
mo. Why? Didn't you send the
full lot?" Was there, after all, a ray
of hope?
The two hundred and fifty barrels?
Why, Of course. The whole order was
filled or time" Cowles' tone suggested
mild horror at the imputation, But
you have always wanted your sal-soda
in flour barrels-sugar barrels are
pretty big for some of the retail peo-
pie. We sent you sugars yesterday, you
know, through an error-one hundred
and fifty of them-those without the
brand"
"Oh?" Hewes grunted. "Well-neyer
mind. Let it go at that, Mr.. Cowles.
lit makes no particular difference,
I suppose"
But 1t does make a difference"
Cowles insisted. You know, it Is a
good deal of a point with us to fill
our orders to the very letter. This
morning l discovered what had hap
pened; and rather than put you to any
inconvenience, I've had them send
another hundred and fifty bar
.rels-f1ours. this time. They're rolling
them into your warehouse now, and
removing the Others"
So? After filing his big order, Cay
ton & Cowles still had enough sal-soda
in reserve to make up an extra hun
dred and fifty barrels! The benefits of
the Combine prices We're not for
Hewes that year. He turned to Cowles
with a smile that held something of
resignation.
well we do prefer the stuff In -four
barrels, as a rule; but | don't know
that you need have bothered making
The exchange"
We never stop at bothering, when
a question of satisfying a custom
or, Mr.. Hewes," Cowles returned pleas
antly, as he rose.
When night had fallen and whistles
we're blowing the hour of six, Cowles
the factory on the wire once more
md called for Redding.
Are they back. Reddingr"
"All of them"
"Sure?"
"Cock-sure. counted them person
lily. One hundred and fifty"
And none of them had been
'pened?"
mo, sir. Not one. | examined each
lead as it was rolled off the truck, and
here isn't a single scar. They're Just
b lney leIt the factory yesterday
morning."
Later, over the dinner table, Cowles
spinning the tale to his wife.
But | don't understand" she inter
upted. "You SAY that you couldn't
ossibly have delivered the soda be-
ore noon to-day, yet yesterday you
ent the full order"
Il also said that I called up the
+randford Paving people yesterday.
hey're laying the new macadam floor
l the sulphuric shop, you know.
urried them up on the materials they
ere sending and-well, we used some
I them for that first one hundred and
fly unbranded barrels"
But"
Mary" said Cowles, in a stage
'hisper, leaning across the table.
there wasn't an earthly thing in. a
ne OF those sugar barrels but crushed