The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-05-30
CHAPTER vi.

size and contained c0nSlOeFaDle anu
varied stock of dry goods. Besides Mr..
Drummond there was a single salesman, a
Young man of twenty-five, who wore a
I crayat of immense size. and ostentatiously
disnIaved in his bosom a mammoth breast
min. witha glass imitation diamond, which,
had it been real, would have been equal
in value to the entire contents OF the
store. This young man, whose name was
Nichols. received from Mr.. Drumnond the
munificent salary of four hundred dollars
per annum Having taste for dress, he
patronized the village tailor to the extent
of his means, and considerably beyond,
being at this moment thirty dollars in
debt for the suit he wore.
Besides this young man there had for
merly been a younger clerk, receiving a
salary of four dollars weekly. He had
been dismissed for asking to have his pay
raised to five dollars week, and since
then Mr.. Drummond had got along with
but one salesman. AS, however, the bust
ness really required more assistance, he
was quite willing to employ Walter on
board wages, which he estimated would
not cost him, at the most, more than two
dollars week.
"Mr. Nichols" said Mr.. Drummond, II
have brought you some help. This is
Walter Conrad, a distant relative"-had
Walter been rich, Mr.. Drummond would
no doubt have styled him a near relative
-"as he knows nothing Of the business,
you can take him in charge, and give him
some idea about prices, and SO FORTH"
"Yes. SIR" said tlre young man, in an
important tone. "Ill soon break him in. !"
Mr.. Nichols, who gave up what little
mind he had to the subject of clothes, be-
gan to inspect Walters raiment. He had
sufficient knowledge to perceive that our
hero's suit was of fine fabric, and taste
fully made. That being the case, he con-
cluded to pay him some attention.
I'm glad you've come" he said. II
have to work like dog. I'm pretty well
used up to-day. l was up till two o'clock
dancing"
"Were your"
"Yes There was ball over to Cramp-
ton. l go to all the balls within ten
miles. They can't do without me-"
Cant they?" asked Walter, not know
ing what else to say.
"No. You see there isn't much style at
these country balls-I mean among the
young men. They don't know how to
dress. Now l give my mind to it, and
they try to initiate me. l don't trust any
tailor entirely. l just tell him what l
want and how l want it. Higgins, the
tailor here, has improved a great deal
since he began to make clothes for me-"
Just then customer came in, and Mr..
Nichols was drawn away from his disser-
tation on dress.
Just notice how l manage" he said
IN a low voice.
"Have you any calicoes that you can
recommends" asked the woman, who ap-
pcared to be poor.
"Yes, maam, we've got some Of the
best in the market-some that will be
sure to suit you"
He took from the shelves and displayed
very ugly pattern.
Il don't think | like that" she said.
NHave you not some with smaller fig
ure?"
1.-The large figures are all the rage Just
now, mas am. Everybody wears them"
Il should like to look at something
else"~
"I'll show you something else, but this
is the thing for you"
He brought out piece still uglier; and
finally, after some hesitation. his customer
ordered ten yards from the first piece. He
measured it with an air of. triumph and,
folding it up handed it to the customer,
receiving in return two-dollar bill,
which the poor woman sighed as she rem
dered it, for she had worked hard for it.
When the customer had left the store,
Nichols turned complacently to Walter.
"How did you like that calicow he
asked.
ut seemed to me very ugly"
wasn't it, though? It's been in the
store five years. / didn't know as we
should ever get rid of it,
Haven't you got any prettier pat
terns?"
PLENTY. l wanted to get off the old
rubbish first. 1t isn't everybody that
would buy it, but she swallowed every
thing l said.'
"She seemed like poor woman, who
could not afford to buy dress very
often"
mo, she doesn't come more than twice
a year"
81 think you ought to have given her
the best bargain you could"
You can fold up those goods on the
counter. and put them back on the
Shelves" said Nichols. Customers put
us to a great deal of trouble that way
sometimes. Mrs. Captain Walker was in
yesterday afternoon, and l didn't know
hut l should have to get down all the
stock we had before we could suit her."
"Why didn't you pick out something
and tell her it was all the ragew asked
Walter, smiling.
THAT wouldn't go down with her. She's
rich and she's proud. We have to be care
full how we manage with such customers
as she is. That reminds me that her bun
die hasn't gone home yet. I'll get you. to
carry it up right away"
1t had been considerable disappoint.
nent to Joshua to find that Walter a.
poor instead of rich, for be had proposed
to make as free use of Walters purse a.
the latter would permit. Even now it oc-
Cured to him that Walter might have ,
supply of ready money. part of which he
might borrow. He accordingly took IN
opportunity one day to sound our hero on