The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1912-01-11
The Solicitor
b. CELIA ATKINSON
Copyright By American Prsss Asso-
citation. 1874
b. CELIA Atkinson

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Gated Then one misfortune after an
other came upon him and the family
20 which be belonged just as be wal
ready 20 make q start In life and
threw him. 80 70 speak. on his beam
ends. He went about applying for 9
position. but since be had had no ex'
perience In any department Of bust
ness be received no better Oner than
10 solicit orders for a patent gaa
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 be was doing. kept
bis samples down IN the bottom Of
bis pocket he had SUFFICIENT pluck,
however. 70 drag himself from one
house 70 another. and whenever ne
was received BY any one whom ne was
sure he had never seer before would
produce a gas burner and proceed 20
~expafiate on what a wonderful light
Il would make and how little gas
would be surned
One morning be rang the bell Of a
residence. and the door was opened BY
a young girL He didn't mind solicit
ing OF old ONE old men or serv-
ants. but girls troubled him he was
about 70 ask II some a be was ny
ing 70 Ind lived there. but changed his
mind. concluding hat as short a way
as any 70 make an excuse TO go on
would Be % produce . sample. The
girl would say she had no use for Il
and that would end the matter.
Il am canvassing for q patent gas
burner be began. when the girl.
much 70 bis surprise. said, -step IN
side He did 20. and she led the way
% a drawing room. Then. asking hin
% be seated. she waited for him %
proceed with his harangue. there
was nothing left for him but to do 90.
This gas burner" he said. IS ar
nnged % separate the gas into md
mute streama. % that Il win mingio
freely with the oxygen Of the afr. pro
ducing a brilliant light and consum-
ing a minimum Of gas Instead OF the
enormous gas bills nun up By using the
ordinary form OF burner. the consumer
finds himself or herself indebted 70 the
company for a bagateiie-
Are you quite sure" interrupted the
girl that the company VIII not at the
end OF the month be indebted % the
consumer
Gardner looked at her with a con-
stralned smile. bot. seeing NJ sign OF
pleasantly and scarcely knowing what
be was saying. staggered on
we scarcely claim that for r. but
we are willing 20 guarantee that the
monthly gas bills win be reduced By
20 per cent Of what they are when the
ordinary burner Is used"
-At what price DO Jon sen Jour
burnersr
sat 10 cents each
II win take a hundred OF them I
suppose you win put them on for me-"
Large orders IKE that are usually
put on By some one from the factory"
4 am opposed to allowing Tom Dick
and Harry The freedom Of the house
I shall expect you to put them on your
SELF
Certainly. n you wish H. WIN to
morrow at this hour be convenient for
your
yea
Gardner bowed himself out. aston
lshed The most that was required Of
him was 70 introduce the burner. IL
was not expected that be would make
sales OF more than a few burners af a
time. But here were q hundred or
dered NJ 10 cents apiece. That would
be $40 Of which his commission would
be 20 per rent, or So BE was quite
elated.
The next day he called with the
burners and was received by the young
lady. who Informed him that her
was lndisposed and II was
necessary that the house should be
kent quiet The burners. therefore.
could not be put on that day. but II he
would call she 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
bis proceeding with bis soliciting. she
asked him into the library. where she
introduced the subject Of books. upon
which she discoursed with as much
volublllty as he bad used In demon
burners When be departed
he was q good deal puzzled
But be was more 80 when the next
afternoon be called to put on the burn
srs A phacton was standing at the
ioor. and when be went inside the
roung lady. attlred for going out was
on her gloves
Il think" she said. ~that IN not
the burners put on this after
To tell the truth. I am a stock
holder Ia q gas company. and your
burners consume 80 little gas that
lear a complication
-what complication" asked Gard
her. opening bis eyes.
why. I am afraid that as a stock
iolder I shall become indebted to my
ELF as a consumer"
The two stood looking at each other
or a few moments when a smile
,roke over the girls face
Il knew you." she said. "from the
moment you rams the doorbell the