The Tupelo journal., 1913-04-25
SONNY WAS ON JOB
BY EDNA FERBER.

In breezed Emma McChesney. Her
quick glance rested Immediately upon
Meyers and the boy. And in that
moment some instinct prompted Jock
McChesney to shake his head, ever
so slightly, and a darkness
of expression. And Emma McChes-
ney. with that shrewdness which has
made her one of the best statesmen on
the road, saw, and ~miraculously un.
derstood.
"How do, Mrs. McChesney," grin
med Fat Ed Meyers. "You see, I beat
you to it."
$50 I see," smiled Emma, cheerful
ly. I was delayed. Just sold a nice
little bit to Watkins down the street"
She seated herself across the way,
and kept her eyes on that closed door.
"Say. kid" Meyers began, in the
husky whisper of the fat man, I'm
going to put you wise to something,
seeing you're new to this game. See
that lady over there?" He nodded dis
creetly In Emma McChesney's direc-
ton.
Pretty, isn't she?" said Jock, ap
preciatively.
know who she isl"
"Well-I-she does look familiar,
but"
ooh, come now, quit your bluffing.
If you'd ever met that dame you'd
remember it. Her names McChesney
Emma McChesney, and she sells T.
IA. Bucks featherloom petticoats.
TIL give her her dues; she's the best
little salesman on the road. I'll bet
that girl could sell a ruf1ed, accordion
plated underskirt to a fat woman
who was trying to reduce. She's got
the darndest way with her. And at
that she's straight. too"
II Ed Meyers had not been gazing
30 intently into hts hat, trying at the
same time to look c~herubically benign
he might have cen a quick and pain
full scarlet sweep the face Of the boy,
coupled with a certain tense look OF
the muscles around the jaw.
well, now, look here" he went on,
still in a whisper. Were both skirt
men, you and me. Everything's fair
in this game. Maybe you don't know
1t, but when there's a bunch Of the
boys waiting around to see the head
of the store like this, and there hap
pens to be a lady traveller in the
crowd, why, it's considered kind of a
professional courtesy to let the lady
have the first loekin. See?"
81 get you," answered Jock.
81 say, this is business, and good
be hanged. When a woman
breaks into a mans game like this,
let her take her chances like a man.
Amt that straight"
you've said something" agreed
Jock.
"Now, look here, kid. When that
door opens | get up. See? And shoot
straight for the old mans Office. See?
Like a duck. See? Say, l may be fat,
kid, but I'm what they call light on
my feet, and when / see an order
getting away from me / can be SO
feet that l have Diana looking like
old Weston doing a stretch of muddy
country road in a coast-to-coast hike.
See? Now you help me out OF this
and I'll see that you don't suffer for
1T. I'll stick in a good word for you,
believe me. You take the word of an
old stager like me and you won't go
far"
' The door opened. simultaneously
three figures sprang into action. Jock
had the seat nearest the door. With
marvellous clumsiness he managed to
place himself in Ed Meyers path,
then redeemed, began an apology,
stepped on both of Eds feet, jabbed
his elbow into his stomach and
dropped his hat. A second later the
door of old S%ulzberg's private office
closed upon Emma McChesney's
smart, erect, confident fgure.-Amer
lean Magazine.
-R-rrII