Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-06
The Argus Daily Short Story
WHAT PAULDING COLLECTED---BY LULU JOHNSON.
Copyrighted 1s08
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated Literary Press.

want to go into business, do youg"
repeated Peter Paulding as he regard
ed the erect form before him. 81 had
begun to think that you were trying to
qualify as q salesman In q sporting
goods store"
Dick Paulding smiled grimly at this
allusion to his athletic prowess. I'm
any event." he reminded his father,
my medal winning should assure you
that you will get sound mind in a
sound body"
Il wish / could be as certain Of the
mind as I am of the body" was the
sharp retort as the older man regard
ed with frank admiration his boys
physique. You know what told you,
boy. If you want to come after me in
the bank you'll have to start at the
bottom"
"And sweep out the foor," a&lled
Dick quietly. 81 guess can do that.
sir"
"We're not educating you to be
janitor," explained the elder hastily.
Il mean at the bottom Of the financial
ladder You will have to start as a
runner.
rs that one of those chaps who go
to the other banks to collect drafts and
things and carry wallets attached to
chains" asked Dick, with interest.
"Just that" said the father dryly.
ut will be a novel experience for you
to have about you any money that Is
chained. l trust the sensation Will In
culcate lessons Of industry and pru-
dence. There is some collecting to be
done that is not from banks-from Hi
ram Pettis, for instance. He owes
$1,000 that he won't pay. See what
you can do with that"
"Why. thought that old Pettis was
good for Millions" cried Dick wonder
ingly
$50 he is-when he wants to pay.
The trouble is that in this instance he
thinks that he has been badly treated
by the bank, and he says we can wait
his pleasure. We don't want to sue,
so guess that you had better go after
him. That will keep you busy for
awhile"
away! cried Dick alertly. Il guess 1t
won't take long to get that out Of
him."
"Wait and see before you brag,'
warned Peter. Anyway, don't so to
his Office. This is a personal matter,
and you want to go to his house. Pet
It's Is crank about keeping his person
al affairs out Of the Office Of Pettis,
Pinkerton & Permain. You might run
up this evening"
Dick nodded, and, nfter some talk
about other business matters, he left
the bank firmly convinced that his new
life was not going to be SO bad after
all.
On leaving college he had asked that
he might have couple Of years in
which to travel, but instead he swung
to athletics. Thus four years had
passed while he was acquiring case
Of trophies, and he was now content to
begin his business training.
He had rather dreaded that begin
ming, for his father, though just, was
strict, and his son knew that it meant
/, starting ut the bottom.
! 1t was rather good fun to be sent
after Hiram Pettis. Dick had never
met the eccentric old millionaire. for
he had mixed little with society while
in training, and, on the other hand.
Pettis was breaking into society on his
daughters account.
| Dick had heard many odd tales Of
the old man, and he thought 1t would
/, be more or less of lark to camp on his
| trail for awhile.
he was even better content after his
Hrst visit. and he rather hoped that the
collection would not be made quickly,
for on that occasion he met Eleanor
Pettis. She was indeed good to look
upon.
!. He had not seen much Of the women