Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
Evening Story
THE "LIVE WIRE"
BY Edmund MoberIy.

BY Edmund MoberIy.
Copyright, 1913, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.
When poor health forced Sam Mil
Ter to retire from the Burroughs Miller
Advertising Company, Richard Bur-
roughs found himself in sole posses
sion of the good WILL assets, liabilities
and responsibilities connected with a
growing publicity business. The firm
had always been an aggressive one.
and Burroughs set about at once to see
that it took no backward steps under
his ownership. He soon found this a
task far beyond the abilities of one
man, and he, therefore, decided that
he must seek partner who would re-
lieye him of some of the financial and
executive burdens which the hrm 8
management imposed upon him.
He received numerous replies to his
advertisement in journal devoted to
his line of business, but of the many
that replied none was chosen. Most OF
the applicants had abundant optimism
but little else. Hope alone, Burroughs
knew. was a doubtful asset in highly
competitive business like his. What
he was looking for was live wire
and he was beginning to despair OF
ever finding one when, one afternoon,
his Office boy entered his private office
bearing card.
It's inscription was simple and unre-
vealing. "E. K. Martin" it read.
"Show him in," was Dicks terse
command.
The boy grinned and vanished, and
returned almost Immediately with
handsome young woman.
Burroughs discarded his pipe IN
haste and registered a silent vow OF
vengeance against the office boy.
II beg your pardon" he managed to
say. s'but you see, rather expected
err"
sro see a man." she finished with
laugh. taThey all do"
'But you must admit your card Is
rather noncommittal-
ST has to be. It Is one OF the PEN
a1ties I pay for doing mans work.
came in answer to your ad in Pub
lefty"
.ePlease be seated" he requested, his
face plainly showing his hesitancy and
confusion.
The girl noticed this. Can you not
put aside any prejudices you may en-
terrain regarding my sex and deal with
me as man to man." she questioned.
Burroughs reflected that it would be
dificult to deal with so radiant crea-
ture as man to man. What he said was:
Every we'll; if you wish it. The part
ner I am seeking must be live wire
thoroughly equipped for aggressive
work in the publicity field. 10 you
place yourself in that category?
II do" she replied, delving into the
handbag she carried. II am already
owner Of small, but well developed.
advertising business. Here is list OF
nv clients. You will find most OF them
hiehly desirable. I also control the
selling agency in this territory for the
CaidwellMarsh line of calendars and
advertising novelties In addition, |
am prepared to assume a just financial
interest in the firm if we come to
terms"
Dicks hesitancy vanished. This in
deed sounded like business. The Cald-
well-Marsh agency was one for Whlcn
the old Burroughs Miller Company had
long angled in vain. Her list of clients
he found to be of the best. He began
to regard with growing favor the pros
meet of a commercial alliance with this
clean cut young business woman.
IT must confess to some surprise at
YOUR proposition, Miss Martin" he ven
TIRED at last. ''The idea of entering in
to business partnership with person
of the opposite sex is quite novel to me.
But the world moves, and we must
move with it or suffer for our lmmo-
bility. Your qualifications and re-
sources are such as to cause me to feel
that / would far rather have you for
an ally than a competitor. Now word
as to myself. I have business here
which has grown far beyond the stat
us of a one-man job. Like yourself,
/ have highly desirable clientele. My
books will show that the business is
healthy and growing
"The saving in office rent and over
head expenses which consolidation
would bring about would be to our ad-
vantage" put in Miss Martin.
"Quite true. In fact, the proposition
looks good in every way. On my part
am willing to enter into negotiations
with view to e1ect1ng partnership.
every well,' she assented. LET US
talk it over as man to man"
r "As man to man." agreed Burroughs,
with smile.
The business acumen displayed by
Miss Martin in the ensuing discussion
increased Dicks admiration and re-
spect- for her. When they had finish
ed the Burroughs-Mart Advertising
Company had come into tentative be-
ing.
IL fortnight the new, firm found it.
self actively launched, a. I'd Burroughs
soon discovered that the new member
was indeed a '1ive wire" The pace
she set in getting business was swift
and untiring.I To prevent her from as
Stunning an unjust share of their bur
dens, he was compelled to exert him.
self to the limit of his ability. All his
old time illusions concerning masculine
superiority in the commercial world
soor vanished. He realized that no