The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-06-19

NC CdIu ran illus.
(N)
" G Q
and Bryan's talk was all of marked
price" selling price" and discount. :"
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
" s. x
represented cost price of thirteen
dollars and fifty cents, and 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.
When John Walters. Harold's sue
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 new code-word"
They chose another word from
list commonly used by merchants for
that purpose, and had, between GUS
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
Morris-chair for a chat with John.
CHANGING 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
Eyes, 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
l worked there half day
Working there now?" asked John.
"No, l quit" John smiled at the
word quit" But was just going
to say, | figured out Luck Brothers
mark just by studying a few tags in
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? And
then it's interesting to know how
much a fellow sticks you for what
you buy"
THE harm is just this: a clerk
who gives away business secret of
his employer"
20 bosh! Business secrets. Be-
sides, so far as Luck's code is con-
cerned, wasn't trusted with that. |
just got it by using my eyes and doing
little clever detective work. You
can read any code-word. There are
+, only ten letters. It's no trick at all
to figure them OUT
He sprang up, looked at the marks
on half dozen articles, smiled tri-
umphantly, and said, You're going
to try Franz Sigel,' Ell? / told you
/ could find out. l know that whole
list in Rrcndt's desk, from o AK
minister down to First Kodak.
What 10 you think of that?"
Il don't believe you can decipher a
good CODE" stoutiy affirmed John.
"You just find one can't. I'll gel
your word before I've been in this
| store fifteen minutes"
(which is just where you Will moi
| be fifteen minutes longer!" broke il
Mr.. Brandt, who had entered unob
served in the heat OF the discussion
II tell you plainly to leave this store
and to keep away. Good day, sir!"
Mr.. Brandt. discouraged with thi
second undoing Of their work, was TO
dropping the buying-price mark alto
gether, yet did not wish to make sucl
a change In his business system.