The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-04-11

The president Of the wholesale lum-
Der and furniture house gazed at the
card in his hand with speculative in
tefest. On il he read the name &C.
Dudley Guy Hamilton, a. NJ, Phi. D. %
fShow him in" he said to the tow
headed office boy in the doorway. and
then he pushed back his chair a bit,
took an uninportant letter and leaned
back TO read it.
Very soon the door opened and a
most curious and imposing figure en-
tered. A tall and strongly built man
u was, with a swarthy face and fine
oval brown eyes, carrying an air Of
dignity and Importance quite beyond
the ordinary. He was clothed in a
ri'sty black frock coat, wrinkled white
trousers and an enormous cravat. He
carried in his hand a nigh-cTOwned
straw hat, a dog-eared volume and a
light cane.
-I believe you are the president Of
this company" he said, as he ad-
vanced, in a deep and strikingly mu-
steal bass voice, and an infection al
nf0st as patrOniZing as if he were about
10 relieve the whole concern from
bankruptcy.
II have that honor" replied the pres
ident. quizzically, uncOnsciously rising
and putting on his dignity. To have
feigned business and remained seated
with crossed legs before this mans i'm
posing presence would have been eX-
ceedingly homogeneous. In spite of the
splotch of the yolk Of an egg on his
callers under lip.
II am an ah-tist. Mr.. Jennings"
proceeded c. Dudley Guy Hamilton,
the same curiously pompOus dignity
manifest in his tone as in his manner;
and as the demah-nd for portraits Is
rah-ther inconsiderable at present I
should not mind occpying myself with
some-ah-COmmercia work for time.
I presume that you occasionally use IL
lustrations of your fUrniture?"
The presidents eyes twinkled, though
he felt a tTifie i'll at ease.
"Oh. yes" he replied rather vaguely,
we use them quite often. Sit down,
won't yoI?"
i thank yOu-no." was the reply.
with movement of the left hand
which would have graCed a king. Il
10 not wish to detain you longer than
necessary"
well" said the president, contract
ing his brOws thOughtfully. Il reaTv
have been thinking of getting a lot Of
Illustrations for our new catalogue.
Perhaps we can make some arrange
nlent. Sit down, and we'll talk il over
The work will be considerable" he
presence here every day for some Tina
We could probably not pay you more
than a fat rate of 90 cents per draw
ing. however"
Il should really be quite satisfied
with that amount" slowly replied the
artist. gazing specUlatively through the
smoke Of his cigar; yes. I believe 1
should"
Some of the cigar smoke reached the
Ri md he
TO cough.
Il trust my ciEah does not annoy
YOU" said the artist, with grave con-
Germ. 1T is really a very good Cigah-
my last. or I'd offer YOU one. ! walk
eight blocks out of my way every day
20 set them-I do, by Jove-"
fIndeed," commented the president:
thanks. but I don't smoke. Can We
consider the matter arranged? You
can begin next week if YOU are pre-
pared. 7 have no doubt that you will
find the work quite easy
VERY Well" replied the artist deiib-
erateiy; you may expect me on Mon
day 1 am indebted to you. my dear
sir. for the opportunity
4 shall make room for your some
where by that time. Mr. Hamilton. ana
shall have the necessary materials pro-
vided. Are you native of this city,
may I ask
a native of this town." repeated the
artist a phlegmatiC smile taking pos
session of his face. you are testing.
my friend I was bah-n across the
pond. in merry England. where the air
is full OF mellow memories and where
a poets buried at every crOssroad- ]
was balm. my dear sir. in a country
which has more romance and more his
toric human interest to the square mile
than any other spot on the surface of
the earth. But'-with a magnanimouS
condescens ion-"this is quite a clever
little town-quite clever. by JOve. II
is only fifty years old. isn't it,
That's all" replied Jennings, re-
gardins his visitor with curious in
terest.
Just then the tow-headed Office Soy
again thrust his head into the office.
with another card. and Hamilton
showed his book under his shoulder
and grasping his hat and cane. took his
leave with the same impressive dig
nifty.
The president smiled after him for
few moments, and then rose suddenly
and flung open the window. Really
very good cigah," he mimicked, in the
artists deliberate bass. and then he
iaughted heartily
At nearly II o'clock on the following
Monday the president suddenly remem-
be-ed thar the artist he had engaged
was due. Nearly a half hour later the
artist stepped from the elevator.
jaunty and cool in a fresh pair of white
duck trousers-shrunken a trifie short
in laundering. He bowed graveiy TO
the sales manager as he passed
through toward the Office of the pTesi
dent. swinging his cane COntentsdly.
Good mah-ning, Mr.. Jennings he
said when he entered. his Totund bass
vibrating over the whole Office.
Good morning. AIT. Hamilton re-
piled the president; We've been won
derjng whether YOU had forgotten us"
He led the way to a desk at the end
of the room. near d number of other
clerks we would like TO give You
room TO yourself. but as we are not
very large concern. we cannot afford
the space
II shall be quite conten, here. I'm
sure" replied Hamilton unConCernedly.
7 see you've got plenty of Bristol
board. etc. and I can begin at once"
And he deposited his cane and hat i'm
mediately with an air of proprietor
ship.