The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-12

men in the trade said Follonby did N not appreciate Plunkett at his true worth. Follonby was 45, bit slow, blt conservative and rather set in his ways. Plunkett was 35, bright, clever-and not at all set in his ways. He has been an employe of Follonby before being ad- mitted, to partnership. At first they seemed to make an admirable business team. Follonby's steadiness and long ex- perience being an excellent offset for the mercurial outside man. Plunkett con- lining his attention entirely to working up trade. And he was a wonder at get ting business. Light hearted, gay, laugh ter loving, he dispeled gloom as the sun dispels fog. Even a man with a grouch could not be in his company long with out showing all suspicion of a smile. He could tell commonplace story in a way to make 1t appear really bright, and he could tell a good story in a style that was delight. Hc knew, too, when a man was just ripe for business, and he had such way of introducing the subject and bringing matters to focus that those who were onto his tricks declared he was a real artist.
 Like all clever salesmen, Plunkett was yain He liked applause and when he did not get 1t he felt resentfu1 No enc was more appreciative of his ability for the first few years of their partnership
 
 cold. Plunllett had been a frequent visi- tor at Follonby's house, but gradually Follonby's manner changed, and the younger man knew he no longer was well come. Then the two men drifted further and further apart until they never spoke except on business matters.
 FollonbY was boss, having a two-thirds interest in the business, and PlunlSett but one-third. He wanted the office force and everybody else to know this fact.
 In the business world, as in families there are feuds, anir4osities, little known scandals and personal differ ences that embitter the lives of those concerned. In the family these trou- bles are matters of great seriousn ass but In business they sometimes operate beneficially. It was so TOT years with Follonby and Plunkett Follonby steady as clock, arrived on the dot each morning and stayed until 5:30 at night There was no shirking by him and he begrudged the short vacation he took each year. He supervised everything, attended to the purchases of stock kept abreast of the market at all times, handled every deal in work lnanlike manner and was keenly jeal- GUS of the high reputation of the house. He was business, strictly bus mess, every hour of the day. While he did not make frienus fast. he lost few, if any, once he made them.
 Plunkett was the soul of irregularity. He breezed into the office when the fancy suited him. He was one of those remarkable salesmen who only could work by fits end starts. but did won derfully well nevertheless. Some times he said Good morning" to Follonby; sometimes he did not. Sometimes it | was we'll along in the afternoon when he said Good morning." Usually it aafy yrff he greeted. He went to his desk, look | ed over his mail, wrote a few letters l if so disposed and wisen he was go- Ing out or away from town, he an l nounced his intentions merely as a mat | ter of form. He never spoke to Foilon- by except on matters of business and then he wasted no words. This situation was not agreeable but 1t | was conducive to prosperity. It kept both l men watchful and alert and made them careful in the extreme of any false move. | IL was unpleasant indeed for the two partners, but it was far more unpleasant for Sackett It seemed to get on his Eerves. Whenever Plunkett spoke to him he jumped, He seemed to be afraid of Plunkett. and there was a ring of au- thoiity, almost of menace, in Plunkett's S tore when he addressed him that the young man used to no one else Any ill humor Plunkett displayed was invariably eXpenueu upon CdChetl'-= GOSSlDly -llle young man used Sackett as vent for his feelings toward Folonby. Possibly Fol lonby. too, used tho same vent. for occa- isonally he gave a rasping lecture to Sack cit when PlunlSett was present that was enough to set one's teeth on edge.
 The Street of Diamonds, of course, | knew all about the situation in the house of Foilonby & Plunkett, just as the neigh bors know what is going on in a village household. There Is just as much gossip | in the business section as there is in I circle of society. If Jones or Smith puts through a good deal it is reported the same as if Mrs Gotrox buys new au- tomobile or goes to the greatest of sani | tariums for the latest and most fashion able of operations One thing the Street wondered about Fo]lonby & Plunkett was that Plunkett did not get out Everybody knew Fol | Ionby was fattening year after year upon