The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-09-09

4
waistcoat pocket. lie 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 "Sothcrn &.
Lee are the only people sell to here.
but | never miss II chance to chin
awhile with old Sam. So, having half
an hour before train time, thought
I'd drop in
6 Mr.. Graham doesn't order from.
your house. then:"f ~
j Doesn't order from anybody, does
he?
Il 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-I gather from the fact tliht
its In Elmira; he mentioned that town,
not the firm. narne-for some sirups.n
you don't mean it!'' Sperry, Gaspcd.
whats struck him all Of n sudden?
He amt put In any new stock for Ten
years. ! reckon" srif.
well. you see," Duncan explained
artfully, ave persuaded him in way
to try to make something out of the
business here. We're going to do
what we Gun. of couysc, in small way
at first"
Sperry wagsed a'dublous head. 81
dunno,"' he considered. SANS nice
old duffcr, but he amt 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 lie remarked. "Oh, Lordw in
tone Of awe. His colossal impudence
dazed even himself. but don't you
think he could get back some Of the
trade IL the store was stocked upr"
NO doubt about TINT at ALL Sperry
averrcd; he'd get the biggest part Of
It." Eit'i
You think SOP"
"Surc OF 1t. You see, everybody
round here likes Sam. and Sothern &
Lee have always been outsiders. They
would swing to this shop In minute
just on account of that. Fact is.
wasted n lot of talk on our firm
couple OF years ago trying to make our
people give him some credit. but they
couldn't see 1t. He owed them bill
then that was so old 1t had grown
whlskcrs."
"And still owes 1t, presumed"
"You bet he still owes 1t. Always
will. It's so small that 1t amt worth
while suing for
Look here, Mr.. Sperry, how much Is
this bill with the whlskers?"
About $50. Think" said the travel
Ing man. fumbllnS for his wallet "rm
supposed to ask for payment every
time ! strike town, You know, so I
always have 1t with me. but haven't
had the heart to say n word to Sam
for good long time. Hcre 1t is.".
Duncan studied carefully the memo
randum: ITO Mdsc. us per bfll ren.
dcred, S47.s5." AZ WONDER he muir.
INJURED.
"Eh?" said Sperry.
~ was wondering. Suppose you were
to tell your people that there's n young
fellow here who'd Ike TO give this
store BOOM. Say he wants n little
credit bccause-becausc Mr.. Graham
won't let him put in any cnsh'-
mot bit of use" Spery. ncgatived.
II would myself. but the housc-no.'
"But suppose pay this bnr'-a
"Pay 1t? You really mean; that?"
Certainly mean It" Duncan pro-
duccd 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
Ind the grcater. part left LlvIng'i is
anything but expensive in Radville.
.."rm beginning to understand thati1