The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-06-01
SELLING GOODS ON THE ROAD
HOW 4 GAME OF MARBLES WON A BIG ORDER FOR SMART
TRAVELLING MAN.

10 VIA ho IldU
been playing Off just to cheer me up
a bit. and thai he believed it was
about time now for him to take a turn
in things. And he did.
HE " down my pile until l had
only about six or eight 'crockies' left.
Then he let up and allowed me to win
until i got even.
And so things went for an hour or
so. Hendrix was having a lot OF fun
with me and 1 could see it, but Just
the same kept on trying. wasn't
going to give up simply because l
knew that / was VI against a better
man than myself, and ] wasn't going
to whine because l had been out of
practice for years. l had made the
proposition myself as a last hope of
selling that man a bill of goods. and
! was going to fight it out to Il finish.
Even if l had known what l later
learned-that Hendrix was the marble
champion of the Ozarks-I wouldn't
have stopped.
We'll once again he began to take
down my supply of marbles, and this
tune l saw that he was in earnest. He
was determined now that he was 60
ing to break me And equally I was
determined that he shouldn't. All my
old-time skill seemed tn come back
to me. ] found myself running around
INV a ivy. HtiflilS WIleH nc illSSeu his
shots, shouting with happiness when I
made mine. The other marble game
down the road was stopped and the
players gathered around us to watch
our combat. From down the street
came other persons. and soon there
was 4 gallery that almost hemmed us
in. Still We kept on playing.
II could sec now that he was really
trying his best, and that | had a slight
advantage over him. l guess it was
the sheer desperation that made me
play as hard as l did. but l certainly
made shots that day tina 1 never be-
fore cqualed and never could equal
again.
Il began TO cat Snto his supply.
got five of his marbles INTO my hands,
l got Observation-Disclosures.
Then things turned agin. My squirt
had not been a lasting one. and the
nervous excitement was beginning To
tell on me. Can't get up V ex-
let me tell O that when you haven't
made Il sale of goods for | don't know
how Ions, when you see a chance to
win out and when YOU have a real adj
Versary against you, you're going to
stir mp more real excitement than YOU
would get in a hundred prize fights.
II missed two or three fairly easy
shots and some n in the crowd
laughed al me. But there were 9TH
courage me. and hat they did.
"1t was too late. however. Soon
Hendrix was even with the board and
then he began on my pile for the last
time. Try as hard as | could l wasn't
able to stop him.
AT last came the time when the
only marbles l possessed were in the
ring. His 'taws' was far away and
saw a good chance of recovery. If l
marble and he would miss. then !
could clean the ring and perhaps that
would give me "A new start. I attempt
ed il. But Just as ] shot, the marble
seemed to slip from my fingers and
went forward with extraordinary
strength far to side. groaned
inwardly, then shouted with all my
voice:
"'Vents.'
kicks taws!' came in the same
breath from my adversary. My mar
hle had gone to one side. struck the
foot of an onlooker and then rolled
right into the position | had desired
for it. We stood and stared at each
other. To me. both had shouted at
the same time. If ! had to go back
to taws. it would mean that Hendrix
could do the same thing l had plan
ncd-clcan the ring and break me.
My chance of selling goods was over.
"'Well.' l asked finally, who yelled
first
81 did. ! believe he said. We
turned to the watchers. They were
sure. Then l did a thing which
required all the sporting blood that
was in ME. | picked up my 'taws' and
walked back to the mark, leaving the
field open for him.
In another five minutes the game
was over. I had been shorn of all my
marbles. Slowly. while Hendrix
laughed. l picked UP my hat and coat,
waved a hand at my adversary and
started back to my hotel, Juggling my
sample cases with me.
II had not walked a block when I
became aware of some one running
along behind me. l turned to see
the face of Hendrix.
"'Nait d minute, pard,' he called.
l stopped. You're a sport he said.
when at last he reached me. 'Mebee
YOU heard me yell first
"'I can't understand that ] did, I
answered. but then that makes little
difference. 1t wouldn't have done us
quarreled about a thing like this. and
so l gave in. Come OH down to the
hotel and have dinner with me. Then
Ill get out of town
I'm be dinged if 1 WILL he an
swered. .Anybody's that's as square
as you be ought to lie set up to the
dinner. I'll have the old woman put
il on right away. And say. o been
representa- your house long,"
"A few years. I answered.
""Well. I'll be derned il you're al
ways as square as YOU are today. you
wouldn't be workin' for a place that
amt sellin' hang w stuff. Guess Ill
buy from you, anyway. Come on up
to the store an We'll look over the
stuff while tn old woman's fixin' din
That's about all of the story" the
sales manager concluded. Except
that / sold the biggest bill of goods
that I had sold in six months, and
Hendrix was a customer of mine as
long as ! was on the road with gloves.
1t helps a lot sometimes to be square
and honest about things. l wasn't
sure that he had me beaten in the
shouting. but l tried TO make my
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