The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-07-21
BURT MADE GOOD
Both Surprised and Pleased His
Father, Who Paved Way
to Success.
BY N. ]. COTTON.

but a chance, nevertheless. If you
have any mettle now is your chance to
show It,"
Burt Sloan was not exactly sue
cess from business standpoint Too
much leisure and money had smoth-
cred any aptitude he had ever shown
IL that line. The irritation and utter
lack OF confidence or pride in his son
showed in the elder Sloane's tones and
nettled the younger man.
"All right, dad, Pm on any time
you say. You've never trusted me
with anything worth considering, SO
how could | make good?"
You've shown no great inclination
for business III any form" continued
the elder Sloan in a milder tone, but
that's not here or there. The point Is,
will you undertake this natter"
Sure, dad, if it's anything within
reason. Drive ahead; let's hear the
details.
The elder Sloan deliberated an In
slant as If arranging his thoughts IN
tangible form then began:
1T cancerns our business and our
rivals. the United people. 1t seems
that up In northern Vermont the
cream separator is not looked upon
with special favor. Through ignor-
ance of its value the farmers are pref.
udiced and tenaciously cling to old
time methods.
Recently the United people have
landed III one of those back towns
and have sold several machines. When
those shrewd, hard-headed farmers
learn the full value Of the separator,
they will begin to buy, and we want
to be in at the harvest.
Our objective point Is G. Not .
machine is owned In that town, and
living there is well-to-do farmer, Will
liam Holden by name, very influential
hut obstinate as mule. II we can
sell him an improved Harples, his
neighbUrs will follow suit like flock
Of sheep, and as news spreads like
ticks we can cover the whole country,
providing We can get ahead OF the
United crowd by mailing Holden.
Gleason, our man, has tackled him
and got downed, and so was Upham
Of the Uniteds. It's stiff proposition,
my son. but I've got confidence In your
ability If the incentive Is strong
enough. think your pride will help
In this. viii you try"
You bet will, dad and glad Of the
chance III gel harples into Bill
Holden's house if | have to make him
a present Of it and stay and run it.
Coed, my son; go ahead and win.
and luck to you"
On sober thought Burt realized he
was up against it good and hard, A
new man attempting what old expert.
enced men had failed at was indeed a
stiff proposition.
He knew that his father had given
him this chance, realizing that its diff
ficulties would appeal to his pride and
ambition. And he was right. The
next day Burt started for Vermont, no
definite plan In view, only to sell Bill
Holden a separator somehow.
At the little backwoods station
where he got on the train. he learned
that he had to drive five miles to Hol.
den's farm. Hiring a team. he set out
for Holden's, II not with trepidation
at least with his confidence consider
ably abated.
No inspiration came to him % he
logged along the dustry country road.
and as his courage was getting near
zero he was glad when . small boy
he accosted for information told him
the next place was Holden's.
The first thing he noticed when hs
got in sight Of the house was q big
sign by the roadside,
PIGS FOR SALE, INQUIRE At
hoLDEN's.
It was then that his plan came to .
head. A big, tall, raw.boned man was
saving wood in the front yard when
Burt drove up. Burt stopped and
waited until he had finished the stick.
expecting he would stop and speak.
but nothing of the kind occurred. He
deliberately put up another stick on
the sawhorse and went on with his
saving.
Burt waited patiently, in some
amusement, until he had finished his
second stick; then he spoke Pretty
busy, are you?"
Vas" briefly replied the sawyer
without looking up and Immediately
began on the third stick.
This finished Burt broke in again:
Have you time to tell me where |
can find Mr.. Holden?"
Right here saving wood" and the
fourth was begun.
Burt calmly waited until 1t was fin.
ished. This time Holden spoke first.
"You can go right along, Mister.
Don't want any leparators, apple trees,
horse liniment, physic. or corn plas-
ters;" and stick number FIVE was be-
gun and finished in silence
The situation was unchanged when
stick number six was placed on the
horse. and Mr.. Holden grudgingly OBJ
served, you here yit? What in dunn
nation do you want? Be We an under
taker waiting for my funeral, cause II
ye air you better move on, cause I'm
healthy yit?"