The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-17
The Enigma-A Special Sale
BY WILLIAM HAMILTON CLINE.

1 thread--and she was back in moment l berating him because 1t was tho sec
 ond aisle to the right, second counter. .ee here. PopsKy," said Name, fa-
 miliarly, you take this thing too hard. 1 O course you can't sell Healeys trade 1 the very books that Healey used to sell
 'en,. That's why he's got trade he
 can carry 1t with him. Now, you feed your people something else-sse?" "Hpeakin' O The Enigma did you see tn evening papers announcement" No; more rnisfortune?" Well Hamb CT gers Is announcin' special run on 1t at s1.1s for Monday. Your price is s1.26, ain't itf" Never less, and we have 1t exclu-
 sively. They can't have such a sale.
 Where could they have obtained the ls books?"
 "I dunno what they can or they can't have, but they announce it. And, say,
 I see Irene and Belle and some more O their people up here every noon this week, buyin' .Enimgas' Just the same. Say, Pop, now, look here-ain't run on Tine Enigma what you been want in'7"
 "It certainly is."
 An ain't Bamberger's telling about a sale at s1.1S, when they ain't got
 any more 'Enigmas' than what they bought from your
 Yes"
 "will you take a tip from me?' 70 course I will.7
 "Then you walk home with me to- night. and I'll put you next to scheme | that'll be winner-see?" Out into Broadway, when the closing l gong changed, Name and Popkin went ] arm in arm The cool night air was re-
 freshing, and even the dropping spirits I of MT, Popkin revived under the com 1 bined atmosphere of Names good cheer 1 and the balmy breeze that swept through | the brilliantly lighted thoroughfare. The | beauty and the relief of it drew them unconsciously closer together, and not l even Healey did they see as they wan l dered on up the street and into Chris 1 ties, where, over nut sundea, they talked long and earnestly of matters that to Healey would have been revela- tion.
 That worthy, however, had turned back when he saw the pair. He had decided in his own mind that this was the night for his say and the very thought of it brought his face to the color of his brick dust hair and totally obliterated the freckles which spotted it like coral islets on tropic sea.
 'Nivir moind,' muttered Healey. Iris wid him she walks now, but wid me she will walk mkt wake. Aha, the havoic I'll work wd him. an Tn Enigma!
 Whereupon he posted off down to Bam- berger's again, and till tho forms closed on the last Sunday morning paper, and no more copy would be received, he and the advertising men were busy.
 The hint of sale of The Enigma that would startle the city was told In the Saturday papers-a hint only. When the natives arose Sunday morning and found pages devoted to the same sale they marveled. Some papers contained little besides the Bamberger advertise mnt; the mere announcement Of such a run on book known as an exclusive Broadgauge stock, was startiing.
 "rhe greatest surprise bargain ever known" read the announcements. Our motto is: We Sell for Less,' and this is the proof of 1t. The Enigma Broad gauge price. always N.25. Our price, s1.1Sr'
 Popkin dropped in on Name that after noon His courage needed bracing up, Healey was making this bigger thing than he had expected.
 .'If he makes good on that he said to Name, 'it will finish me. The very book that we boast Is our own"'
 .sYou ain't got the nerve of a cat?' de- clared Name, scornfully He can't beat you if you have MT. Mays's consent back O you t carry out our plan.
 And so it was that with much encour- aging, Popkin was sent off after tea to violate all store ethics-to carry right up to MT. Mays, the owner, most daring plan to crush this bold scheme of Heaiey and Bamberger's. And on Sunday too!
 In fear and trembling Popkin rang the Mays's bell and with shaking knees he was admitted. But in an hour he came forth with head held high, smoking one of the best of Mays cigars and as satis- fled a look on his face as if he had been a millionaire. And that night 1t was Popkin and Mayss advertising men who worked for many hours, In secret and, on all but Popkin's part, in amaze, the while, too, that Healey had his chance with Name.
 Right we'll did IIealey plead his cause, and Name wavered.
 "'Pop' is a good fellow she said to herself, "but he ain't got the courage of a flea, while here's Healey. already with an int'rest in the sales and cinch on his job. He ain't pretty, but. lands vuh don't eat beauty. I've notion to take Healey."
 But Popkins appealing face filled her mental vision again, and her love e fair play stood betwixt Healey and her own heart.
 'No,'' she said to herself again. Pm goin' t wait till this Enigma scrap is done. I'm gon to give Pop his show
 MT Healey' said Name. you're a. good feller, an I like you" Healey beamed. But ain't goin' to say t'night what I'm goin' t do. Will yuh wait a week, an come nex' Sunday night for tn answer?"
 'Tant me that knows why ye can't say Yis' might said Hesley slowly. But nayther Is ut me thatll priss ye, whn ye'd rather wait. An Sunday night. is ut? I'll come thin fer me furst kss!"k
 Bargain day at Bamberger's had sell dom seen such a rush. Before the doors opened that Sunday morning the side mittance was secured the throng made for the book department, and the de- mand for "The Enigma" set in.
 And such a demand Healey and his clerks were overwhelmed; they called for extra help: they waited on two and three at once, and Healey watched the stacks of books melt away with mingled feelings of wonder, delight and amaze. Customers took two and three copies. and returned for more It was inexplicable: the cut of cents did not justify great a rush, and Healey could not understand it.
 In fact he was in a small sized panic. It was all right to gather in some few hundreds of the Broadguage's leader in books. and cut under cost on them; he could afford the small loss for the sake of hurting the prestige of the rival estab- lishment; but when 1t came to supplying a demand that was little less than a riot. and which meant serious inroad upon his profits for weeks ahead. that was cause for alarm. And just that was what threatened For already the supply of '"The Enigma was almost depleted. and fha calla for if uera more insistent than