Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-10-19
The Solicitor
By CELIA ATKINSON
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

other came upon him ana the fatniI!
to which he belonged just as he was
ready to make start In life anC
threw him. 50 to speak. Oh his beam
ends. He went about applying for u
position. but since he had had no eX-
perience IN an: department of bust
ness he received no better offer than
to solicit orders for patent gas
burner.
Gardner. who had not yet worn our
his good clothes and was afraid OF
meeting some of his old friends who
would know what he was doing. kept
his samples down in the bottom OF
his pocket He had sufficient pluck.
however. to drag himself from one
house to another. and whenever he
was received by any one whom ne was
sure he had never seen before would
produce q gas burner and proceed to
expatiate on what a wonderful ilghl
it would make and how little gas
would be burned
One morning he rang the bell of u
residence. and the door was opened by
q young girl. He didn't mind solicit
ing of old women. Oh men or serv.
ants. but girls troubled him. He was
about to ask il some one he was try
ing to find lived there. but changed his
mind, concluding that as short a way
as any to make an excuse to 80 ON
would be to produce sample. The
girl would say she had no use for il
and that would end the matter
IL am canvassing for Il patent gas
burner" he began. when the CIR.
much to his surprise. said. "Step III
side" He did so, and she led the way
to dra wing room. Then. asking hiss
to be seated. she waited for him to
proceed with his harangue. There
was nothing left for him but to do 50
This gas burner" he said. lis ar
ranged to separate the gas into mi
mute streams. so that 1t will min2!"
freely with the oxygen of the air. pro
ducing brilliant light and consurl
ing minimum of gas Instead of the
enormous gas bills run up by using ne
ordinary form of burner. the consumer
finds himself or herself indebted to the
company for bagatele."
Are you quite sure" interrupted the
girl, that the company will not at the
end Of the month be indebted to the
consumer
Gardner looked at her with con-
strained smile but. seeing no sign of
pleasantly and scarcely knowing what
he was saying. staggered on.
I'VE scarcely claim that for 1t. but
we are willing to guarantee that the
monthly gas bills will be reduced by
so per cent of what they are when the
ordinary burner Is used"
AT what price do you sell your
burners?"
AT 10 cents each.
81 will take a hundred Of them.
suppose you will put them on for me-.
Large orders like that are usually
put on by some one from the factory"
~ am opposed to allowing Tom. Dick
and Harry the freedom Of the house.
shall expect you to put them on your
SELF
Certainly. If you wish it. Will to-
morrow at this hour be convenient for
you?"
Yes"
Gardner bowed himself out. aston
ished The most that was required of
him was to introduce the burner. Ii
was not expected that he would make
sales Of more than few burners at
time But here We're hundred or
dered at 10 cents apiece. That would
be $40. Of which his commission would
be GO per cent. or SO. He was quite
elated
The next day he called with the
burners and was received by the young
lady. who Informed him that her
mother was indisposed and 1t was
necessary that the house should be
kept quiet. The burners. therefore.
could not be put on that day. but II be
would call the next afternoon at 3
o'clock the work might be done. She
intimated that no haste was necessary
either in the burners being put on or
his proceeding with his soliciting. She
asked him into the library. where she
introduced the subject Of books. upon
which she discoursed with as much
voubility as he had used in demon
stratins burners. When he departed
he was good deal puzzled.
But he was more so when the next
afternoon he called to put on the burn
ers. a phaeton was standing at the
door. and when he went inside the
young lady. attired for going out. was
putting on her gloves.
IL think" she said. that I'll not
have the burners put on THIS after
noon. To tell the truth. | am stock
holder In gas company. and your
burners consume so little gas that |
fear complication.
"What complication?" asked Gard
rer. opening his eyes
"Why. | am afraid that as a stock
holder | shall become indebted to my.
self as a consumer"
The two stood looking at each other
for few moments. when smile
broke over the girls face.
81 knew ycu." she said. from the
moment you rang the doorbell the
other day. You are John Gardner. and