The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-06
THE EVENING STORY
The Art Of Demonstration.

.
by bottles of perfumery with fancy |
names and more fanciful labels. Huge /
signs. painted in red letters on white |
bristol board. offering souvenirs for
the opening day, enticed many GUS |
toners.
school children made point of go
ing nome that way, gaping through the |
windows at the new stock of goods, |
discussing the grave question, Would |
the new druggist sell penny licorice |
sticks?
The days rush was practically over
when young woman opened the door I
ana walked into the new sho- She |
glanced about; then she drifted from |
the window display to the complexion |
counter. The store was empty save |
TOT one young man standing against
the case of stationery, which was
placed conspicuously in the center of
the shop.
Priscilla Pruyn thought him a most
Indifferent clerk. He had not noticed
| her entrance. She asked for Venus
cold cream"
The young man started as she
| Evening News. which he had been
reading.
81 beg your pardon" said he. did
you speak to me?'
cold cream repeated Priscilla with
some emphasis.
"Er-yes-that is novel;. really,
| 1 don't know he stammered.
|
| to look" suggested Priscilla.
The young man smiled and Priscilla
set him down as an insolent city
youth Yet she could not help re-
very well and that they were far better
than those worn by the clerks in the
| other Middletown shops.
by Jove, suppose I do look he
| and sorted pile after pile of cosmetics.
| No Venus" cream could be found.
II say, you couldn't tell a fellow
| what the blamed things look like, could
you 20 he asked desperately "Ah.
have it." he cried, as he grasped long
tube. Here is something much bet
ter. You see. we don't carry Venus
cream but now this Jupiter lotion is
/ all the go in the big cities.''
| Priscilla decided to try the Jupiter
lotion" and after paying for it left
| the shop. That night the new clerk
| was discussed at the Pruyn supper
| table. Mr.. Pruyn had not heard that
| the new druggist kept a clerk. but his
| daughter assured him that such was
| the case. and he was a most imperti-
nent and incompetent one.
| The new druggist, however. seemed
a very enterprising man. The Evening
News announced the following week
| that demonstrations of the wonderful
| properties of Jupiter lotion" would
be given in the new drug store. with
free samples as souvenirs.
Priscilla had just been wishing that
she had insisted on having Venus
cream" when this announcement met
her gaze. She would certainly drop in
| tomorrow and have them show her
| how to use it properly
Household duties kept her busy
nearly all afternoon, and 1t was dusk
| when she entered the shop for the
second time. The incompetent clerk
| was there again. He seemed to be
ubiquitous But Priscilla was pre-
pared for him this time.
May see Mr.. Wells. the. proprie-
has not benefited me at all. My hands
and face are still quite chapped."
The clerk smiled-agafn that indif
ferent smile.
Mr.. Wells has gone to his supper"
| was his reply. "But really I can show
you how to use the lotion. The fact
is, I've been watching John-that Is,
Mr.. Wells-demonstrate its use all
ough. 1t must be rubbed until the
skin is dry. Won't you let me show
you ?' he offered.
Priscilla was loath to consent, yet
somehow the clerk had a most convinc-
ing manner. and as he proceeded to rub
the lotion on the back of her hand, she
decided that he had also great mag
netic powers. Perhaps she had not
done the lotion justice. Before she left
she was convinced that Jupiter lotion"
was just what she wanted She thank
ed the clerk and, as she was leaving,
asked him to take an order from her.
Mother wants two bottles Of settler
sent over, please, and charge them"
Then realizing that the clerk, fresh
from the city, did not know the Pruyns,
she gave the name and address.
Everybody who is anybody in Middle |
town goes to church on Sunday morn |
ing, and when Priscilla and her par
ents returned from services the next
morning they found the new drug clerk |
sitting on the front porch with the two
bottles Of seltzer beside him.
As usual, he was smiling Priscilla |
had begun to know him by that smile
and towel. almost like him for it.
why, bless my SOUL" said Mr.. |
Pruyn. isn't thds Dick Decker's boy?"
tinized the face Of tho youth who had /
risen to meet him. "I thought you were /
sick with typhoid" |
Yes, Mr.. Pruyn, I'm Dick Deckers !
shook his hand heartily. "At least /
that's what they call me UP here. At
college I'm known as Phil Decker !
have been III with typhoid, but I'm
liver this settler that your daughter |
ordered yesterday. You know my best |
friend, John Wells, has started this new
drug store in town; In fact. the old man
while I'm hanging about town run in
and help him now and Them.
Gust Hike your father. my boy" said
the elder man, as he patted him on
the shoulder and invited him into the
house. He introduced his family and
proudly pushed Priscilla to the front
The father never recalled Priscilla's
FLUSHING 30 easily before
Priscilla and Phil found themselves
alone in the room.
aHow could your" came from her as
she glanced shyly at him
How could I do otherwise?" said
the young man.
at wasn't fair. do you think?" sug-
gested Priscilla in a somewhat injured
tone.
Phil smiled.