Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04

A nine o'clock nearly every chair in the lobby of the
"A Star was occupied. Eight pairs of feet adorned
the heavy brass ratings along the ss of the two WIDE
low windows that looked out upon Highest, and almost
many thrust into the warmth OF the gas logs
flaming in the central fireplace One or two men in
chairs in the outlying districts frankly asleep.
Over all was haze of cigar smoke.
Coming in from walk after supper, Wilson searched
the lobby until he found Thorburn talking with some
IN corner.
@May join you Mr.. Thorburn?" he asked, his hand
the back of vacant chair.
"Sure pull up. This is MIR. Felton, Wilson, Pills
Felton-Federal Drug Company. He's one Of the old
timers he knows all about drummers. Lordy, Pills,
how many of EN- we've go!'
go? You bet, Jir-and they re just about all gone
now. | saw twenty years ago, and | think he was
the last. don't remember much about him except that
he had waistcoat and diamond oh, yes | do re-
member that ne GO: two good orders the day saw
him." FELTON, rubbed the top of his head thoughtfuly
"One of them was to get OUT and the other to stay
out
a was telling Wilson little while ago that the drum
of the articles that of the houses car
ried these days said Thorburn. 1There aren't any
They just naturally beat themselves to DEATH
Eyes; but, Jimmy remember the time, and SO do
yo,l when they were thick feas dog-without
being SO busy. They'd loaf away half day with one
man, and turn in expense account that ashamed
of itself If fellow couldn't split bottle of whisky
with customer and hand out tough story with
every drink, he didn't sell goods Oh yes, know that
the customers to blame for lot of it. The moment
you'd go into store the proprietor would sing out
Hello Bill Got any new ones for me this week! And
new ones didn't refer to goods, either.
"But, Mr.. Felton, Wilson nterposed, doesn't man
on the road have to be-we something OF good fellow
these days?'
Good fellow Not on your life he Doesn't He's got
to be good salesman, that's ALL You'll find the good
fellows in the graveyard, not on the road.
yep, and they'll hold that job longer than they ever
held any other Thorburn nterected watching Wilson
of the tail Of his eye Nowadays if takes
poker and drinking and storytelling as side ne he'll
find that he can't handle his regular goods at all
and his side line is too cheap to show profit
"Why, Jim man hasn't any time these days to sit
in game drink. When he's been hustling around
all day. the jump every minute till long after sup
per, he doesn't want to play cards. anyhow: he's too
tired. He doesn't to drink, either because its
bet that he's got to turn out at sunrise next
morning to make another town. But when was new
the road remember making Charlottesville, Indiana
Saturday after dinner and finding poker game in
full blast among bunch of statesmen and customers in
room just off the hotel office. They had their food
brought in, and they didn't stop playing until nine
o'clock Sunday night When was paying my bill on
Monday morning | heard of the players, drum
mer, trying touch the clerk fer loan. He said he'd
lost all his money and all his expense money and
couldn't wire his house for any And he never