The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-01-01
TheSanP ancoBlend

By Frank H. spearman.


back. If it goes back, that manager
must meet the conditions that are TAX
ing his trade, or he must resign. Mr..
Blakesler stirred himself Unfortu-
rately he was stubborn when he should
have been energetic, and spasmodic
when he should have been steady. He
tried many combinations to match the
qualities of the mysterious new cof-
fee which was making such havoc
with his trade.
Experimenting in this haphazard
way he struck the combination of cof-
fee which, when put into the roasting
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 a peculiarly rank, heavy Mexican
coffee, known as San Panca-a coffee
so exceedingly oily that it sold in the
markets at very low price.
Still 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 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 it is" blurted
Blakesler, 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, 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 month Mr.. Clarkson sent
for Walter, and told him to take the
coffee department himself. Then Wal
ter worried in earnest. 1t was COW
eted position, an extraordinary ad
vancement; but the responsibility
there was the rub. However, in such
cases one must act; not to rush on 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 luck!
When you get that Quaker blend right,
send me a sample"
"Where'll you be?" asked Walter, in
perfect seriousness.
"Im 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 it made an epoch in the rec
Ords of remarkable house.
Walter determined first of alk 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.
1t happened one day, after repeated