The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-12-23


discussing with his partner, Mr. Ho-
bart, some letters that he held in his
hand
Here's another" he sighed. Our
Western salesman wants US to go
down the river and bid on that Hub
bell contract. I'm getting tired of run
ming all over the country after these
small jobs. ! wish we had some one
we could trust to handle them and
leave me free to figure on the big fell
lows
There's young Avery" remarked
Hobart, stroking his chin. HE has
been with us three years now and
knows the business pretty well. The
only question is whether we could
trust him to make estimates and put
in bids on his own responsibility. He
might put US in a hole if he made
mistake
James thinks Avery is the real
thing during business hours" an
swere Stanley. "All James has against
him is that he seems inclined to be
sporty. Spends his evenings playing
billiards and poker, ] believe
James is like all head book-keepers
over fifty. They think the young fell
4OWC unuC1 CACA1 SnOu4Q OG dS 6ODCI DIS
married man with nine children"
was Hobart's comment THE young
fellows will have their fling. But to
come back to business" he added,
why not give him trial? Send him
down the river and tell him to do the
best he can for us. He can't break US,
and If he turns out all right, we might
take him with US some day."
Accordingly, next day, Frank Avery
was told to get ready to go down the
river on Wednesday, so as to be in
time to put in a bid that was to be
opened on Friday evening.
The news soon spread among his
friends that he was in line to be pro-
NOTED to travelling man, and not the
least hearty of the congratulations
came from Jennie Wheaton, who had
her own reasons for regarding Franks
success in life with particular interest.
''I do hope you will be successful"
she told him enthusiastically
Wouldn't it be nice if you got con-
tract all by yourself? I'm sure they
would take you into the firm some
day"
While Frank smiled at the impor-
stance which Jennie attached to such
trifle as one contract, he realized that
the outcome of his first attempt might
mean good deal to him, and he de-
termined to be very careful in his es-
Inmates and make no mistakes. If he
were to underbid, the firm that got the
contract would have to lose money on
the job.
The same evening that Jennie
Wheaton was talking over the future
with Frank in her home, two men
were discussing the young man in the
back room of saloon in another part
of the same town. One of these was
a professional gambler called Jim
Hoadley and the other was a man
named WilIets, who had requested the
interview.
There's two hundred dollars in 1t
for you, Hoadley," remarked the caller
quietly, as he poured out a glass Of
whiskey. I'VE want that contract
down the river, and we thought we had
it all fixed to get it. Stanley and Ho-
bart must have only just heard about
it. and they are going to send one Of
their young men down there on the
Jump to figure on the job. Now, you
see,'' he went on, slipping his whiskey,
"they think it isn't much of contract,
or old man Stanley would go after it
himself. We can't get him into the
ring with US any way we try 1t.
Whether we can handle this young fell
low Avery or not, we don't know, but
there's one thing sure; if you can fix
him it's our contract, and as / said be-
fore. it's worth two hundred If you can
3 do the trick"
WELL" drawled Hoadley, as he
helped himself to cigar, 81 should
have to send two men down the river
with him. and they would be gone two
or three days. Besides"
''I'll pay fares and all expenses Of
that kind" interrupted Willets hastily.
Besides, it's a question" continued
Hoadley, not noticing the interruption,
whether we could hold the young fell
low or not. There's some that you can
catch, but they break away Some
you can put the screws on and make
'em do most anything if you get 'em
into a corner, and there's others that
will tight and break away. Perhaps
this young fellow is fighter" and the
gambler looked questioningly at Will
lets.
81 don't know anything about that"
reDIied Willets, little impatiently.
"AII want is to get the bulge on him
some way so we can prevent him from
bidding against US on that job. don't
care whether he never gets near the
lob at all, or whether he agrees to go
in with us and put his figure high
enough to let Stanley and Hobart out
and leave US in. That's up to you.
You've trapped better and smarter men
before to-day and there's two hundred
dollars in it. You can have half of 1t
now. and all expenses paid.
The upper deck of river steamer,
gAwith the pillows of brown smoke swift
fIv and silently pouring out Of the
smoke-stacks behind, and the ever
changing. but monotonous, shore in
front, with its endless procession of
melancholy moss-laden trees, is not as
attractive as the comfortable saloon
cabin, with its warm stove and the
supper tables all in line, waiting for
the gong.
One of the men sitting round the
stove offered Frank a cigar, making
some remark about the absence of any
.1--,e of foQ After chatting 0laasant