The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-02-16

( cylinders. emitted so disagreeable a
smell that it drove the roasters out
on the roof This mixture Blakes-
Ter called the San Panco blend, be-
cause fifty percent of the coffee in it
was peculiarly rank, heavy Mexican
coffee, known as San Panca-a coffee
so exceedingly oily that 1t sold in the
markets at very low price.
Still a rumor had reached Blakesler
| that the rival house was using San
Panco coffee in the new famous blend,
named Quaker Mocha. 1t was hard to
credit 1t because San Panco Mexican
was known to be utterly unfit for
drinking purposes, and any consider
able percentage of it used in a blend
would ruin the finest Sumatra Mandhe-
lings, as Blakesler proved in his trial
upstairs.
Meantime the head of the house,
Mr.. Ralph Clarkson, kept a sharp eye
on the coffee department He sent
over for Blakesler, and questioned him
closely about the troublesome Quaker
Mocha
Il don't know what 1t is" blurted
Blaiesler, quite out of patience at last,
nor any way to find out how to
match it," he bluntly added, except
to hire their head rooster and get
the secret from him."
1t was the least fortunate suggestion
that could be made, because it went
rudely against the traditions of the
house OF Clarkson. Ralph Clarkson
was shrewd, experienced merchant,
and all great merchants have well-de-
fined principles of business honor. He
replied dryly:
Such things have been done-rather
too often, l think. In my day, to
meet puzzling conditions, we used to
rely on our wit"
Three months passed Things got
worse in the coffee department. 1t
was rumored that Mr.. Blakesler had
failed somewhat in health and would
resign on the first of the year.
The news made Walter Stevens
worry, because he did not know who
the new manager might be- Very Of
ten new managers want new assist
ants. After a month Mr.. Clarkson sent
for Walter, and told him to take the
coffee department himself Then Wal
ter worried in earnest. 1t was a COW
eted position, an extraordinary ad-
vancement; but the responsibility
there was the rub However in such
cases one must act; not to rush oil is
to fall back. Walter accepted the I'M
expected honor, and thoughtless boys
about him envied him the snap"
Walter himself did not lose sight OF
The fact that fine positions bring with
them criticism and responsibility. The
| first thing that confronted him was
the specter of the famous Quaker
Mocha. The last thing Blakesler flung
at him was, We'll, Walter, good luckl
When you get that Quaker blend right,
send me a sample
"Where1l you be-" asked Walter. in
perfect seriousness
I'm going to sell Quaker Mocha for
the other folks. This old house is
played out, my boy. 1t isn't what it
used to me-"
At twenty-three Walter Stevens took
the Clarkson coffees. They can still
tell on the street just what year that
was, for 1t made an epoch in the rec
ords Of a remarkable house.
Walter determined first of all to get
to the bottom of the Quaker Mocha
mystery. His eyes, his ears, his taste
and his understanding were alive first
Of all to everything pertaining to the
puzzling blend
! II happened one day. after repeated
experimental failures, that Walter was
| sitting at his desk when tho broker of
| their principal Mexican house came In.
| Young Stevens cultivated the goodwill
/ Of all the men with whom ne did bus
mess. This broker, Charlie Roberts,
reciprocated Stevens's courteous treat
ment by giving him the current gossip
Of the trade AS Roberts sat down at
Stevens's desk, he seemed greatly put
out about something.
I've just come" he exclaimed. from
the telephone. Loring & Company are
the Queerest people ever did business
with"
Walter Stevens listened with inter-
est. Loring & CO., wcr the makers
of Quaker Mocha
They're big buyers" Charlie ran
on, excitedly, but they are bigger
cranks. You know they use a good
deal OF San Panco coffee" Walter did
not know this, but he was willing TO
learn, Two months ago our once sold
them FIVE hundred bags of San Panco
for April delivery. Well, it happened
we could not get It. There has been
revolution down there end things are