The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-03-06
The Solicitor
BY CELIA ATKINSON
Copyright by American Press A5so-
citation, 1911.
BY CELIA ATKINSON

ready to make start In Life and
threw him. SO to speak. on his beam
ends. He went about applying for a
position, but since he had had no ex-
perience In any department OF bust
ness he received no better offer than
to solicit orders for a patent gas
burner.
Gardner. who had not yet worn out
bis good clothes and was afraid of
meeting some of his old friends who
would know what he was doing, kept
his samples down In the bottom of
his pocket. He had sufficient pluck.
however, to drag himself from one
house to another. and whenever he
was received by any one whom he was
sure he had never seen before would
produce gas burner and proceed to
expatiate on what q wonderful light
1t would make and how little gas
would be Burned
One morning he rang the bell Of a
residence, and the door was opened by
a young girl. He didn't mind solicit
Ing of old women, Old men or seTv-
ants. but girls troubled him. He was
about to ask If some one he was try
Ing to find lived there. but changed his
mind. concluding that as short way
MS any TO make an excuse 10 so on
would be to produce a sample. The
girl would say she had no use for 1t
and that would end the matter
II am eanvassing for a patent gas
burner" he began. when the girl.
much TO his surprise. said. step IN
side" He did so. and she led the way
to drawing room. Then. asking him
to be seated. she waited for him to
proceed with his harangue. There
was nothing left for him but to do so.
"Thls gas burner" he said, lis ar
ranged to separate the gas into mi
mute streams, so that 1t will mingie
freely with the oxygen of the air. pro-
ducing a brilliant light and consum-
ing minimum of gas. Instead of the
enormous gas bills run up by using the
ordinary form of burner. the consumer
finds himself or herself indebted to the
company for bagatelle"
Are you quite sure" interrupted the
girl, that the company will not at the
end of the month be indebted to the
consumer
Gardner looked at her with a con-
strained smile, but, seeing no sign or
pleasantly and scarcely knowing what
he was saying, staggered on.
I'VE scarcely claim that for 1t, but
we are willing to guarantee that the
monthly gas bills will be reduced by
SO per cent Of what they are when the
ordinary burner is used"
"At what price do you sell your
burnersY'
AT 10 cents each"
81 will take a hundred of them. /
suppose you will put them on for me-"
Large orders like that are usually |
put on by some one from the factory"
II am opposed to allowing Tom. Dick
and Harry the freedom of the house.
/ shall expect you to put them on your
self"
Certainly, il you wish it. Will to- |
morrow at this hour be convenient for
your
Yes
Gardner bowed himself out, aston
ished The most that was required OF |
him was to introduce the burner. 1t
was not expected that he would make
sales of more than few burners at
time But here were hundred or
dered at 10 cents apiece. That would
be $40. of which his commission would
be 60 per cent. or &C. He was quite
elated.
The next day he called with the
burners and was received by the young /
lady. who informed him that her
mother was indisposed and 1t was
necessary that the house should be
kept quiet. The burners. therefore.
could not be put on that day, but If be
would call the next afternoon at 3
o'clock the work might be done She |
intimated that no haste was necessary
either in the burners being put on or
his proceeding with his soliciting. She I
asked him into the library. where she
introduced the subject OF books, upon
which she discoursed with as much
as he had used in demon
strating burners. When be departed
he was a good deal puzzled
But be was more so when the next
afternoon he called to put on the burn
ers. A phaeton was standing at the
1oor, and when he went inside the
young lady, attired for going ont. was
putting on her gloves.
~ think" she said, that I'll not
have the burners put on this after
noon. To tell the truth. ! am stock
holder in a gas company, and your
burners consume so little gas that
'ear a complication"
"what complications asked Gard
Ter. opening his eyes.
why. | am afraid that as a stock
holder | shall become indebted to my
;elf as a consumer"
The two stood looking at each other
or few moments. when smile
,roke over the girls face.
81 knew you" she said. from the
you rang the doorbeIl the
,ther day. You are John Gardner and
met you not very long ago at Mrs.
I have heard OF your mis-
ortunes and admire your pluck in
aking bold Of the world even IL your
irst grip is nothing better than a gas