The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-01-13


waistcoat pocket. He dropped his
sample case beside the stove and
pumped down in the chair. to the peril
Of its existence. II don't make this
town very often" he pursued while
Duncan studied his card. "Sothern &
Lee are the only people sell to here.
but | never miss chance to chin
awhile with old Sam. So. having half
an hour before train time. l thought
I'd drop in
"Mr. Graham doesn't order from
your house, then?'
Doesn't order from anybody. does
he?"
II don't know. I've just come here
He'll be sorry to have missed you.
though. He's just stepped out to wire
your house, gather from the fact that
It's in Elmira; he mentioned that town.
not the firm name-for some sirups."
You don't mean it, Sperry gasped.
He amt put in any new stock for ten
years. | reckon"
well. you see." Duncan explained
artfully. i've persuaded him in a way
to try to make something out of the
business here. Were going to do
what we can. of course, in small way
at first"
Sperry wagged q dubious head. IL
dunno" he considered Sans a nice
old duffer, but he amt got no business
sense and never had. You can see for
yourself how he's let everything run TO
seed here. SOtheru & Lee took all his
trade years ago
Yes. 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 &
Lee have always been outsiders. They
would swing to this shop in a minute
just on account of that. Fact is.
wasted Il lot of talk on our firm
couple of years ago trying to make our
people give him some credit. but they
couldn't see IL. He owed them bill
then that was so old 1t had grown
whiskers.''
"And still owes it, presumeT
uNnu hnt bn still oxuac
will. It's so small that it amt worth
while suing for
Look here, Mr.. Sperry. how much is
this bill with the whiskers?"
about $40. | think" said the travel
ing man. fumbling for his wallet I'm
supposed to ask for payment every
time ! strike town. you know. so |
always have It with me. but haven't
had the heart to say word to Sam
for a good long time. Here it is
Duncan studied carefully the memo
randum: ITO Mdse. as per bill rem
dered. S4T.s5" 81 wonder"- he muir
INJURED
''Eh?" said Sperry.
81 was wondering. Suppose you were
TO tell your people that there's young
fellow here who'd like TO give this
store Il boom. Say he wants little
credit because-because Mr.. Graham
won't let him put in any cash.
Not a bit of USE" Sperry negatived.
II would myself. but the house-no.
"But suppose pay this blll''-
"Pay It? You really mean that?"
"Certaialy | mean it, Duncan pro-
duced the wad of bills which Kellogg
had furnished him the night before
his departure from New York. Thus
far he 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 Radville.
"I'm beginning to understand that
was cut out for an actor" he told him.
self as he thumbed the roll with
serious air and an assumed indiffer-
ence, which permitted Sperry to es,i-
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 trifle- mere trifle." he said casu-
ally. II 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 q receipt, but you needn't mention
this tn Mr.. Graham lust now"