The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-11-23
The Solicitor
BY CELIA ATKINSON
Copyright by American rrcss Assoc
citation. 1911

!
10 which he belonged Just us he WAS
ready to make n start IN hle ana
threw him. so to speak. on his beam
ends He went about applying Tor II
! position, but since he had had no eN'
perience in any department OF bust
ness he received no better Oiicr than
to solicit orders for II patent Sa~
burner.
Gardner, who had not yet worn out
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 "i
his pocket He had sufficient pluck,
however. to drag himself from one
house to another. and whenever ne
was received 10y any one whom ne was
sure he had never seen before would
produce Il gas burner and proceed to
expatiatc on what Il wonderful light
il would make and how little gas
would be burned.
One morning he rang the bell of "A
residence. and the door was opened by
a young girl He didn't mind solicit
ing of old women. Old men or serV-
ants, but girls troubled him. lie was
about to ask II some one he was try
ing to find lived there. but changed his
mind, concluding that as short way
as any to make an excuse 10 go on
would I've to produce IL sample Inc
girl would say she had no use for II
and that would end the matter.
IL am canvassing for patent gas
burner" he began. when the girl.
much to his surprise. said. step III
side" He did so. and she led the way
to dra wing room. Then. asking him
to be seated. she waited for him to
proceed with his harangue. There
was nothing left for him but to do So
This gas burner" he said. rs ar
ranged to separate the gas into MI
mute strea ms. 80 that 1t will mingle
freely with the oxygen OF the air. pro-
ducing brilliant light and consum-
ing a minimum Of gas. Instead OF the
enormous gas bills run up by using the
ordinary form Of burner. the consumer
finds himself or herself indebted to the
company for bagatelle."
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 or
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
80 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 hundred OF them. l
suppose you win put them on for me
Large orders like that are usually
put on by some one from the factory
II 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, VIII to-
morrow mt this hour be convenient for
youf'
yes"
Gardner bowed himself out, aston
| ished The most that was required or
him was to introduce the burner. 1T
was not expected that he would make
sales of more than few burners at
time. But here were a hundred or
dered ut 10 cents apiece That would
be $40 of which his commission would
/ be 60 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 bouse should be
kept quiet. The burners, therefore.
could not be put on that day. but II he
would call the next afternoon at 3
/ o'clock the work might be done. She
intimated that no haste was necessary
cit her 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
volubility as he had used in demon
!
he was a 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 n gas company. and your
burners consume so little gas that
fear a complication.
"What complication" asked Gard
uer. opening his eyes.
"Why. am afraid that as a stock
holder shall become indebted to my
self rs consumer"
The two stood looking AT each other
for few moments when smile
broke over the gil'S face
81 knew YOU" she said from the
moment you rang the doorhcn the