The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-04-21
BY"

VuC0.
"Frone!" he bawled. "Frone
Frone!! Frone!!!" His fat face wal
apoplectic. Startled bookeepers ben,
busily over ledgers. ONCE boy.
rushed hither and yon on purely imag
NATIVE errands. The ghost of smile
on the lips of q pretty stenographe,
was frozen to taut line as the heavy
weight senior Of the firm bore down
upon her.
where's Frons?" screamed the
boss.
IL don't know sasped the girl
her ears ringing. He hasn't arrived
yet"
Hasn't ,eh," roared Simmons
HASN'T" He scowled. "Well, when
he comes send him in. dye hear!
Send him in!" With an elephantins
shuttle he vanished oflceward.
A startled quiet followed. Some
where, in II remote corner. q pin fell
from a clerks lapel. A boy gigglsd
hysterically. The door opened and
Prone breezily made his appearance.
"You-you're wanted in the ONCE.
sir" the inundated stenographer
ventured. She followed the confident
Prone with her eyes as he whistled
his way toward the sanctum Of the ex-
plosive Simmons.
Fred Prone was good to look at. His
clothes fitted his 1.-the form well and
he had self-assured way with him
that made him the best road salesman
of the great firm of Simmons & Taer
Frone tapped at the swinging doors.
Come in," promptly beloved a voice,
but even before this the youth had
pushed his way into the presence.
Well. sir?" he calculated, with easy
courtesy.
"Sit down." growled Simmons, and
resumed writing. 1t was possibly five
minutes before he glanced up. The
senior of Simmons e Taer had q
knack of jumping into the heart of
things when he liked and he began
ut once, his beady little pig eyes
twinkhng eloquently behind rolls Of
fat
Il have letter here from the
Square Deal Store at Duffyburg," be-
gan Simmons. You have been there
recently?" This last seemed to be in
the form Of a question. Frone an
swered.
Last week." he elucidated. "The
store added china department. /
didn't land their order. however"
Maybe you did. young man."
growled Simmons. systematically.
That remains to be seen. The Square
Deal is pretty big store, isn't it,"
Largest in their section" respond
ed the travelling man. "And worth
more to US than any three in my dis.
trict. II we can line them up"
Here" monosyllabled the boss. He
threw an open letter toward Prone.
who deity caught it. 1t read:
"Messrs. Simmons & Taer,
New York City.
Gentlemen:
Your Mr.. Prone called upon US last
week with samples and prices. We
also received visit from Mr.. Dobson,
of Meek & Metz, who. as you know,
are in the same line as yourselves.
THE time when either Of these gen.
tlemen called was inauspicious for
buying. We are now In the market.
however. but confess ourselves unable
to choose between the two houses
all things, in our estimation, being
equal. (Here let us say that the
Square Deal. following its custom in
other departments. will buy from only
one china house.)
"A letter similar to this ia sent BY
same mail to Meek & Metz. The first
to reach us with salesman will re-.
ceive a substantial order and all fu
ture business-providing, of course
responsible competitors' prices are
met.
Very truly,
THE SQUARE DEAL STORE"
Without word. Prone handed the
letter back. He looked at his watch
"Well?" snapped the old man.
Il have Is minutes in which t.
make the first train out" answered
Frone.
Simmons priced brevity. His ia,
face glowed. His thick lips wreathet
to something akin to q smile. Good.
he rumbled. beating great flst OF
the fiat desk before him. I'm GLAD
that there's one man in my employ
who is willing to postpone his outinl
for the sake Of business. We haven
. man in of the road except you
but ] knew you could be depende.
upon" Frone's vacation was to hav,
begun the next day and he has
planned to go on a fishing trip with
number of friends. none Of whom h,
would ask to sacrifice one golden mo
ment In waiting for his return.
Prone wasted no time in dialogue
The time was too limited. Again, b,
knew that in the olices Of Meek 4
Metz similar confab was takinl
place between the lean, dyspspti
Metz and the cunning Dobson, arch
rival for the crockery trade Of Frone'
II Asnecial diatpicf