Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-02-03

BY Belle c. WARREN.


When ! was twenty-five years of ago
was sent to 81. Paul b. the firm
was with TO establish an agency for
their goods. soon discovered that
there was concern in Minneapolis
which was selling the same grade OF
goods and always undertaking me.
! went over there 10 see il could
make scale OF prices with the ander-
bidding tlrm n.. 4.a.
found young man even younger
than myself. lie was not acting as
agent, but for himself. stated my
business. to WHICH he listened atten-
lively. | argued that IL he continued
TO underbid nell would begin to un.
derbid him, and one would thus ruin
each others trade, whereas If we made
prices together we could both succeed
When had finished he said:
what guaranty have | that you
viii keep your agreement
Surprised ut such question, [ re-
Piled. "The same guaranty have that
you will keep yours" a.:
There is no doubt whatever that
will keep any agreement 1 shall make"
he replied. with some hauteur.
lt struck me that he should go to
some university for course Of logic.
However, pursuaded him to make
Il list OF minimum prices with me and
left him we'll pleased with the result
OF my visit. We became very good
friends as well as competitors. and
finally. when ] concluded 10 act also
on my own account. we concluded. I'm
order 20 save expenses. to form n part.
nership. offered TO give him first
place in the firm name. but he insisted
on taking the second. so we styled
ourselves Graves & Elliston.
! found my partner a queer mixture.
For n time l was virtual as- well ms
nominal head OF the firm. nut lost II
20 very odd way. 4 man came into
our store to buy large bI14o goods
on credit. The profit would. be large,
and l was brimful OF enthusiasm over
the trade. Not so Elliston. He fat
" refused to consent Ito sell the man.
When It came TO his reasons he had
none TO give. lrritateu. L told him
that he should explain his position or
would dissolve the partnership.
whereupon. driven to the wall, ne said
that he didn't like the shape OF the
mans nose
notwithstanding this absurd reason,
which ! inferred lie had given simply
10 afford me an excuse for not fulfil.
ing my threat. We did not sell the
goods. Some months later the notes
ths purchaser had given other firms
were protested and every dollar OF the
Indebtedness was lost charged Ill
iston with having some Information
unknown 10 me about the rascal. but
lie denied bnying any Whatever. Never
tbeless from this time 1 never urged
entering upon any important transac.
zion without my partners full ap.
prevail.
But when 1t came to matter of sew.
eral hundred or several thousand dol.
lars. while l would unblushingly make
az offer OF half the amount asked,
ElllstOn could never bring himself 60
consider such course as anything but
ridiculous. Thus the large transac.
tons fell into my hands
Although Elliston seemed to me 90
be very nOtional, 1 gradually found
fiat he was better business map
than !. He was certainly my superior
IN looking ahead While NY mind
was on .he present, his was on the
future. This was especially true ln
the matter Of expenses. ! am free 10
admit that bad IL not been for bin
our expenses would have eaten up our
profits lie was continually surprising
me- when payments we were Obliged
10 make came round by having pro
gde1 the funds 10 meet them. This
faculty. together with bis Keeping ex.
pchses down, made Doney for us every
year for several years Then one day
EilistOu told noe that he wished 20 sell
hs interest 10 the business since he
purposed travelling abroad. This was
blow 10 me. for 7 was not minded
10 give up business myself. and I was
sure ] could not make money without
the aid Of the typical faculties pos
scsscd by my partner However. no
gave me easy terms, md ! bought hiu
out
~ soon as the papers had passed ~
listOu babe me gOoBly 8ud left for
New York to slil for Naples A week
later I received q better from him "a.
Chicago. asking mc 90 meet him there
Since he gave go reason / hesitated.
However, knowing him ~ be a queer
fclsw who usually had n reason bid
den away souew here for Whist he