Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-05-12

pumped down in the chair. to the peril
of it's existence. Il don't make this
town very often" be 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
All hour before train time. l thought
Id drop in.
Mr. Graham doesn't order from
your house. then?
Doesn't order from anybody, does
heT'
Il don't know. I've just come here.
He'll be sorry to have missed you,
though. Hes just stepped out to wire
your house, gather from the fact that
it's in Elmlra: he mentioned that town,
not the firm name-for some sirups."
You don't mean it." Sperry gasped.
WHATS struck him all Of sudden?
He amt put In any new stock for ten
years. | reckon"
well, you see." Duncan explained
artfuIly. I've persuaded him in way
to try to make something out Of the
business here. We're going to do
what we can. of course. In small way
at first"
Sperry wagged a dubious head. 81
dunno" he considered. SANS nice
old dufrer. 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. know. That's why he needs
me-" said Duncan brazenly. In his
soul be remarked. "Oh. Lord" In
tone Of awe. His colossal impudence
dazed even himself. But don't you
think he could get back some of the
trade II the store was stocked up?"
''No doubt about that at ALL" Sperr!
averrrd: he'd get the biggest part o
it."
you think SOP"
Sure of 1t. You see. everybody
round here likes Sam. and Sothern
Lee have always been outsiders. The!
would swing to this shop in minut,
just on account of that. Fact Is,
wasted lot of talk on our firm e.
couple Of years ago trying to make our
people give him some credit. but the!
couldn't see it. He owed them bill
then that was so old 1t had grow
whiskers"
And still owes it. presumeT'
you bet he still owes it.. Always
will It's so small that it amt wortl
while suing for
Look here Mr.. Sperry, how much II
this bill with the whiskers?"
About $50. think" said the travel
ing man. fumbling for his wallet. Pm
supposed to ask for payment ever!
time l strike town. you know. so ]
always have 1t with me, but | haven't
had the heart to say a word to Sam
for a good long time. Here 1t is"
Duncan studied carefully the memo
randum: "ro Mdse. as per bill rem
dered. $47.S5." ~ 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 a boom. Say be wants q little
credit because-because Mr.. Graham
won't let him put in any CASH
mot a bit Of use." Sperry negatived.
II would myself. but the house no"
But suppose l pay this bill'-
"Pay it? You really mean that?"
"Certainly | 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 1
was cut out for an actor" he told him
self as he thumbed the roll with a
serious air and an assumed indifer-
ence, which permitted Sperry to esti-
mate its size pretty accurately.
'That's quite a stack Of chips you're
carrying" Sperry observed.
Duncan's hand airily waited the re-
mark into the limbo Of the negligible.
"a trife- mere trihe," he said casu-
ally. 81 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'n
take a receipt, but you needn't mention
this to Mr.. Graham just now"
"No. certainly not" sperry scrawled
his signature to the bill.
"And about that line Of credits?
"Well, with this paid l guess you
could have what you needed in moder-
alton. Of course
"My name Is Observation-Disclosures
Duncan"
Sperry made memorandum of 1t on
the back of an envelope. Amy for
mer business connections"
None that l care to speak about"
Duncan confessed glumly.
Sperry's face heightened. mo ref
erences"
1t took thought and after thought
courage, but Duncan hit upon the So
luton at length. "Do you know l.. J.
Bartlett & Co., the brokers'"