The Sentinel=record., 1911-12-10

Sperry Wagged a dubious head "f dunno" he considered "Sam's a nice old duffer, but he ain't got no business sense and never had. You can see for yourself how he's let everything run to seed here. Sothern & Lee took all his trade years ago"
 Yes, l know. That's why he needs me" said Duncan brazenly. In his soul he remarked, "Oh, Lordr' in a tone of awe. His colossal impudence dazed even himself. But don't you think he could get back some of the trade if the store was stocked up?"
 No doubt about that at all." Sperry averred; "he'd get the biggest part of it."
 You think sop
 Sure of it. You see, everybody round here likes Sam, and Sothern X Lee have always been outsiders. They would swing to this shop in minute just on account of that Fact is, l wasted a lot of talk on our firm a couple of years ago trying to make our people give him some credit. but they couldn't see it. He owed them bill then that was so old it had grown whiskers."
 And still owes it, presumeT' F "You bet he still owes it. Always will. It's so small that it ain't worth while suing for"-
 Look here. Mr. Sperry. how much is this biii with tine wiIiskers 2.
 About $50. think" said the travel ing man. fumbling for his wallet "Pm supposed to ask for payment every time l strike town, you know. so l always have 1t with me, but I haven't had the heart to say a word to Sam for good long time Here it is"
 Duncan studied carefully the memo randum: ''To Mdse. as per bill ren- dered. SiTS5.'' sI wonder''-- he mur- mured.
 "Eh?' said Sperry
 'I was wondering. Suppose you were to tell your people that there's young fellow here who'd like to give this store boom. Say he wants little credit because-because Mir. Graham won't let him put in any cash"-
 Not bit of use.' Sperry uegatived. T would myself, but the house-no'
 "But suppose pay this bilr'-
 "Pay it? You really mean thatT"
 Certainly mean It." Duncan pro suced the wad of bills which Kellogg had furnished him the night before his departure from New York. Thus far ne had broken only one of the $500 gold certificates. and Of that one he had the greater part left. Living is anything but expensive in Radyile.
 'I'm beginning to understand that l was cut out for an actor,'' he told him self as he thumbed the roll with a serious air and an assumed indiffer, ence. which permitted Sperry to esti- mate its size pretty accurately.
 That's quite stack of chips you're carrying" Sperry observed.
 Duncan's hand airily waited the re, mark into the limbo of the negligible "A trihe-- a mere trihe." he said casu ally. T don't generally carry much cash about me. Haven't for five years" he added irrepressibly. He ex. tracted a fifty dollar certificate from the sheaf and handed 1t over. I'll take receipt. but you needn't mention this to Mir. Graham just now"
 "No, certainly not" Sperry scrawled his signature to the bill.
 And about that line of creditY
 Well. with this paid I guess you could have what you needed in moder- ation. Of course"-
 My name is Duncan--Nathaniel Duncan
 Sperry made memorandum of it on the back of an envelope. Any for mer business connections ?"
 "None that care to speak about" Duncan confessed glumly.
 Sperry's face heightened "No ref erences T
 It took thought and after thought courage, but Duncan hit upon the so- lution at length. Do yon know L. J. Bartlett & Co, the brokeTs?"
 Do know J. Pierpont Morgan?"
 "Then that's all right Tell your people to inquire of Harry Kellogg, the junior partner. He knows all about me-"
 Noting the name, Sperry put away the envelope. That's enough. If he says you're all right you can have anything you want" He consulted his watch. Hmm! Train to catch. But let's see. What do you need here?"
 Duncan reviewed the empty shelves, his face glowing. Pills" he said. with a laugh-"all kinds of pills and everything for regular. sure enough drug store, Mir. Sperry, everything Sothern X Lee carry and a lot of at tractive things they don't--small lots. you know. until see what we can sell"
 see. i0u leave ii to ne. i prvi,a- bly, know what you need better than you do. I'll make out list this after noon and mail 1t tonight with instruc- tions to ship 1t at the earliest possible moment"
 "Splendidw Duncan told him. "You do that and don't worry about our making good. I'm going to put all my time and energy into this proposition ana"-
 Then you'll make good ali right" !"