The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-10-02

Good morning! Tell Mr. Ketcham
10 come over and see me-"
But MIR. Ketcham did not come 10
see me. On the contrary. he continued
the contest with ne quarter. His next
announcement was that at trial be-
tween Gunter's and Southwicks soaps
cake Of eTth was thrown into a tub
of water and Southwick's washed Gun
ters clean out of the tub. Many peo.
pie understood enough of this to see
tniit n. us n -Hs turned against me
Not only did my sales fall Off. but |
found that good many cakes Of the
Southwick article were finding their
way into Farnsworth. 1t seemed to
me that l must do something to get the
upper hand in the struggle or go out
of business. So. after racking my
brain for awhile, got notice insert
ed in the newspapers Of my town that
there was no use for our citizens to
seek the seashore during the summer.
All they need do was to throw a cake
of Gunters soap into Green's pond and
the latter. breaking on the shore, would
be quite equal to any sea foam.
What was my surprise, after my
caution. to see few days after this in
sertion a notice in a Millville paper
that the agent OF Gunter's soap at
Farnsworth had by mistake got hold Of
a cake of Southwick's soap and wash
ed himself out of business.
This was too much. 1t was a false,
malicious announcement. At any rate,
many matter of fact people would
so construe It, | drove over to Mill
vile resolved to put a stop to this libel
Gus way Of competing for trade and
straight to Ketcham's office. l found
the same girl there as before.
where's Ketcham?" | inquired i'm
patiently.
"What can l do for you? I'm in
charge"
you can say to him that one more
notice in a newspaper rejecting on me
or the article | sell and l shall at once
begin suit for damages"
How much will they be?"
"How much? Why, l shall sue for
for perhaps as much as $4,000"
THAT would be awful. I doubt if
Mr.. Ketcham could pay all that"
II didn't say would be allowed that
sum by the court. said would sue
for that amount"
ooh, Well. I'll tell him"
l stood looking at the girl AS
have said before, she was stupid look
ing, but pretty. l should have girl
like that in my place of business; it
would enable me to get out more to
drum up business.
do you know" l asked, "of any
young woman who would like a posi-
tion with me at Farnsworth such as
you have here with Mr.. Ketcham"
What would be the salary|
II could make it $40 week"
She sat thinking awhile, then asked:
How would you like to take over Mr..
Ketcham'S stock and run your and his
business together? l think he'd like
to sell"
For how much"
"He might turn over the stock that
he holds as agent and sell the good
will of the business for, say, $4,000"
Two thousand dollars was a good
deal, but he had worked up quite a
trade, and if | should buy him out
would have the field to myself. l said
l would think it over. | went back to
Farnsworth and considered the matter
eXhaustively. Somehow l had taken a
fancy to Ketcham's clerk and believed
that she would be a great advantage
to me. Whenever l had gone to Mill
vile / had found Ketcham out work
ing up trade, while / spent most of my
time in my shop. Finally l wrote
Ketcham that l would give him $1,000
for the good will of his business and
take his clerk at salary of $12 a
week. By return mail l got papers
assigning me his business and a tele-
gram from his principals appointing
me their agent in his place. l sent a
check to his order for the purchase
money and asked him to ship his stock
and send his clerk to me.
The stock arrived in due time, then
the girl.
well, Miss 1 began and waited
for her to fill in her name.
"Ketcham."
Are you a sister Of Mr.. Ketchams?'
NO"
amy relation"
mo"
"What are your initials"
"F. b."
'The dickensw
Her hitherto sober face broke into a
smile.
Il suppose l may as well confess
now as at any time. I've been running
the business over there and at a loss
There's room for only one, and that one
can't stay indoors and keep shop. He
or she must be out canvassing all the
while. Since your first visit l have
been aiming to sell to you. You can
now he one all tha while and | will