The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-06-18

BY {. 0. JAMES.
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When Harold McGeary lost his
c1erkship in Brandt's furniture store,
the town of Laurel Grove enjoyed the
iproverbial nine days wonder as to the
cause. In a town of two thousand
people a position in such q store as
Mr.. Brandt's is considered fortunate
for a bright young man like Harold
McGeary. Naturally, a merchant of
Mr.. Brandt's standing was not given
to public speaking about business
secrets, but somehow Laurel Grove
felt that Harold's excess of bright
ness" had caused his discharge. Mr.
Brandt could easily have confirmed
this rumor with some interesting de-
tails.
The young man had been quick at
learning the details of the business
had taken an interest in values, and
had asked intelligent questions to a
degree that caused his employer to
think him a wonder of business sagac-
aty
But all Laurel Grove knew the Nc
Geary family for the most confirmed
of innocent" gossip-venders. Let us
not use harsher term. They were
too kind-hearted to love scandal, they
meant no harm, but the delight of
knowing and telling other peoples
secrets was to them as intoxicating as
strong wine.
What harm could there be in Mrs.
McGeary's telling the ladies of the
were denied further credit at
Brandt's? Or in Della McGeary's
revealing--in strict secrecy--to ten
different persons the amount which
the new doctor and his bride owed for
house furnishings? Or in the know
Ding public speculations of Daniel Nc
Geary, head of the family, as to Mr..
Brandts income and his standing
with the wholesalers? Or in the con-
scious pride of the other McGearys,
as shown, for instance, by Eudora's
remarks about the price of the high
school library furniture, or by the
lavish distribution of yardsticks by
Evadne, agen ten, and Bryan, aged
twelve, cause our brother works at
Brandt's?"
But when Mr.. Brandt learned that
Bryan had proudly displayed to his
young compeers a card lettered with
certain mystic symbols, then 1t was
that Harold was quietly discharged.
The card ran thus:
IN
Y $s4H 9 g sSS
and Bryan's talk was all of marked
price, SELLING price" and discount. I"
1t was merely Mr.. Brandt's price
mark code. in which each letter of the
word stood for corresponding figure,
enabling him or his clerk to tell at a
glance the margin between the cost
price and selling price of an article.
Thus
"a Ys.6S
represented a cost price of thirteen
dollars and fifty cents, and a selling
price of seventeen dollars. And once
they knew the code-word, the Nc
Geary family almost lived in the fur
niture store, learning just how much
Mr.. Brandt would make off the sale
of each table and chair.
cessor, had served long enough to
prove himself thoroughly trust
worthy, Mr.. Brandt told him the story
of the code-word.
Remember, John, that you hold
this position simply because another
young man could not keep business
secrets. Now you and l must remark
every piece of furniture in the house
with a new code-word."
They chose another word from a
list commonly used by merchants for
toners, changed the tags on part of
the stock when, during Mr.. Brandt S
lunch-hour, Harold McGeary saun-
tered in, and planted himself in a
Morris-chair for chat with John.
Glancing casually at the price tag on
the chair-arm, he became suddenly
curious, and reached for the tag on
the next chair and the next.
Aha, you're changing from Wash
ingtox.'
John was non-committal.
"Oh, you can't fool me-" went on
the astute Harold. "I've studied
code-words too long"
"Yes, you have" assented John,
dryly.
Codes aren't hard to read" ran
on Harold, sweetly ignorant of Johns
intended sarcasm. why. got ON to
Sisson's word-'Black Horse before
worked there half day"
Working there now?" asked John
mo, quit" John smiled at the
word quit" But l was just going
to say, l figured out Luck Brothers
mark just by studying a few tags il
the window. Their words"
Never mind, don't want to know
it," said John, with something in his
quiet tone that made the other flush
Why, what's the harm? Ant
then it's interesting to know how
much fellow sticks you for wha
you buy"
The harm is just this: clerl
who gives away business secret o
his employer"
20 bosh! Business secrets! Be
sides, SO far as Luck's code is con
cerned, wasn't trusted with that
Just got 1t by using my eyes and doini