The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1910-08-20

beneath his avoirdupois. He rose
hastily and set his sample case on the
floor beside him.
Really. Mr.. Strathmore, you mis-
take, he responded blandly; 1T
haven't called to show goods; our firm
has no desire to transact business with
Strathmore, Burns & Noble while
their affairs are conducted on its pres
ent basis"
Strathmore stared. opened his
mouth to speak. but cambridge gave
no opportunity.
I'VE deal only with those firms who
give fair dealing and honest treatment
to our agents. and am sorry to state
that yours Is not reckoned among
them. My business with you is of an
other nature, one of the greatest i'm
portance to yourself, and while
might show you the line we carry,
simply to oblige you. personally. Mr..
Strathmore, had found you at leis-
ure, you really must excuse me this
morning for am entirely too busy to
show goods to those who do not care
to purchase up-to-date articles"
Strathmore wheeled and confronted
his visitor. Honest treatment, fair
dealing, up-to-date articles" he repeat
ec, suavity forgotten in the brazen eff
frontery displayed by cambridge.
What do you intend by these insults,
sir?"
Just the truth, nothing more" came
the undaunted response, uttered still
more blandly. Our representative
has called upon you twenty-three times
in the past three months, and each
time you have invited second call,
promising attention to our goods, and
that attention has never been given
do you call that honest dealing and
fair treatment? An honorable man
would tell the truth and say he didn't
want and wouldn't have them. Don't
you agree with me?
"As to up-to-date articles" hurrying
on, giving no time for interruption,
have you seen our oxegoneter? Have
you examined into the merits of the
latest hydromatic? I'll bet dollars to
Lincoln pennies that you never saw
their equal"
He was on his knees before half his
sentence was ended, throwing out
samples with a practised hand. Strath-
more made no effort to restrain him.
his moorings were swept away and for
the moment he was adrift on the un-
| usual.
Then a something composed of
spirals, tubes and strangely fashioned
bits of metal caught his eye, In q
beautifully embossed box which Balm.
bridge had artfully flung open.
What is that?" he demanded. his
anger merged in curiosity.
That" replied cambridge, with a
plying smile, us a thermalecter;
told you that your firm was way be-
hind the times"
Strathmore's eyes flashed. 81
haven't found It necessary as yet to
hire a two-dollar agent to bring me
present day business civility," he re
torted, land with new inventions piling
up at the rate OF several thousand q
month, one may be excused II a worth
less contraption is occasionally over
looked"
Perfectly true" cambridge was al
suavity. But this. you see, is one Of
the modern necessities; by this mar
is enabled to read the secret thoughts
of his business adversary and by {
certain arrangement of its working
parts can render him as a child in the
hands Of an irate mother and brint
him where he will produce his las
dollar. They are in very common use
and our firm has the sole agency, sell
ing over ten millions Of them In thu
past six weeks"
A light which was all ripples ant
bubbles broke over Strathmore's face
You'll do" he chuckled. Come, IL
give you just ten minutes to show
your stock and clear out. The trutl
is, am busy this morning ant
shouldn't spare a moment"
cambridge nodded and got down Il
business. When he departed he had |
very small order, but felt that he hat
pierced the breastplate that shielded
his antagonist.
At the nearest booth he called Mis-
Strathmore over the wire. Yes,
know you object to lunching with me
but this is important, must see you
All right; much obliged; the Common
wealth at one sharp"
Then he hung up the receiver, wei
satisfied with the world In genera
and his particular portion Of 1t for tn
details of his happiness. Yet he knew
that asking for the hand of the dear
est girl In America on that evenini
was out of the question. He dare'
not lose the advantage gained by
premature avowai, and must be con
tent to wait until events shaped them
selves to his good fortune.
Business was too absorbing to Civ
further thought to personal matters
but quarter before one found him Ell
route for his luncheon engagement
Rounding the corner Of the hotel h
collided with a man Fastening In tn
opposite direction, and he regaine'
his balance to notice that 1t wa
Stathmore, who apologized with
~a ., ot,,rad or,pt Than ha praan