Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-15

mr.. Stantey was seated at his desk
discussing with his partner, Mr.. Ho-
bart. some letters that he held in his
nand.
Here's another" he sighed. Our
western salesman wants us to 10
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 we'll. The
only question is whether we could
trust him to make estimates and nut
in bids on his own responsibility. He
nigh. put us in hole If he made a
mistake"
"Jimes thinks Avery is the real
thing during business hours" an.
swhre Stanley. "All James has against
him is that he seems inclined to be
sporty Spends his evenings playing
billiards and poker, I believe"
James Is like all head book.keepers
over fifty. They think the young fell
lows under them should be as sober as
a 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 a trial? Send him
down the river and tell him to do the
best he can for us. He can't break us,
and IL he turns out all right. we might
take him with IFS 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.
II do hope you will be successful"
she told him enthusiastically
Wouldn't it be nice if you got a con-
tract all by yourself? I'm sure they
would take you into the firm some
day"
While Frank smiled at the impor-
lance which Jennie attached to such
trifie as one contract. he realized that
the outcome Of his first attempt might
mean a 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 a saloon in another part
of the same town. One of these was
professional gambler called Jim
Hoadley and the other was a man
named Willets, who had requested the
interview.
There's two hundred dollars in it
for you, Hoadley." remarked the caller
quietly as he poured out glass Of
whiskey. I'VE want that contract
p down the river, and we thought we had
1t all fixed to get 1t. 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
Sec" he went on. slipping his whisliey,
they think II isn't much OF contract,
or old man Stanley would go after 1t
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; II you can fix
him it's our contract, and as | said be-
fore. it's worth two hundred If you can
DO the trick
We'll" drawled Hoedley, as he
helped himself to a cigar, II should
have 20 send two men down the river
with him, and they would be gone two
or three days. Besides"
III pay fares and all expenses OF
that kind" interrupted Willets hastily
Besides. it's question" continued
Hoadley, not noticing the interruption
whether we could hold the young fel
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 II you get EN-
into a corner, and there's others tha
will fight and break away. Perhaps
this young fellow is a fighter" and thu
gambler looked questioningiy at VIII
lets.
II don't know anything about that.
replied Willets. little impatiently
"All I want is to get the bulge on hin
some way SO we can prevent him IRON
bidding against us on that job. don
care whether he never gets near thu
lob at all, or whether he agrees to 81
in with us and put his figure higf
enough to let Stanley and Hobart on
and leave us in. That's up to you
You've trapped better and smarter mel
before to-day and there's two hundred
dollars In It. You can have half OF !
now. and all expenses paid"
The upper deck Of q river steamer
with the pillows of brown smoke swift
" and silently pouring out OF thu
smoke-stacks behind. and the ever
changing, but monotonous, shore II
front. with its endless procession O
melancholy moss-laden trees. Is not a
attractive as the comfortable salool
cabin. with it's warm stove and thf
supper tables all in line, waiting fol
the gong. 40
One OF the men sitting round tn
stove offered Frank cigar, MAKING
some remark about the absence or an
signs of fog. After chatting pleasant
~ for a while. he volunteered the In
formation that his name was Maxwel
and that no was going as far down a
Natchez, while his friend here, Colone