The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-02-24
STACY E. BAKER,

Old Simmons. of Simmons & Taer
rushed frantically out Of his private
office.
"Frone!" he bawled. ! Prone
Frone!! Frone!!!" His fat face was
apoplectic. Startled bookeepers bent
busily over ledgers. Office boys
rushed hither and yon on purely imag'
NATIVE errands. The ghost of smile
on the lips Of a pretty stenographer
was frozen to a taut line as the heavy
weight senior of the firm bore down
upon her.
where's Frone? screamed the
boss.
II don't know gasped 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 int" With an elephantine
shuttle he vanished officeward.
A startled quiet followed Some
where, in a remote corner, a pin fell
from q clerks lapel. A boy giggled
Historically. The door opened and
Frone breezily made his appearance.
"You-youre wanted in the office,
sir" the intimidated stenographer
ventured. She followed the confident
Frone with her eyes as he whistled
his way toward the sanctum Of the ex-
plosive Simmons.
Fred Frone was good to look at. His
clothes fitted his 1.-THE form well and
he had a 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.
We'll, 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 & Taer had a
knack of jumping into the heart of
things when he liked and he began
at once, his beady little pig eyes
twinkling eloquently behind rolls OF
fat
Il have a 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 a china department l
didn't land their order, however"
Maybe you did, young man"
growled Simmons, enigmatically.
THAT remains to be seen. The Square
Deal is a 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, if we can line them up"
Here" monosyllabled the boss. He
threw an open letter toward Frone,
who deftly caught it. 1t read:
"Messrs. Simmons & Taer,
New York City.
Gentlemen:
Your Mr.. Frone called upon us last
week with samples and prices. We
also received a 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 it's custom in
other departments, will buy from only
one china house.)
"a letter similar to this is sent by
same mail to Meek & Metz. The first
to reach us with a 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 a word, Frone handed the
letter back He looked at his watch. |
"Well?" snapped the old man.
"I have IS minutes in which to
make the first train out" answered
Frone
Simmons priced brevity. His fat
face glowed. His thick lips wreathed
to something akin to a smile Good"
he rumbled, beating a great fist on
the fiat desk before him. 'I'm glad |
that there's one man in my employ |
who is willing to postpone his outing |