Putnam patriot., 1915-06-11
His nane' smiled Emma Mochesney lis Jock Mcchesney"

chesney, "is Jock Mcchesney."
 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 there2" He nodded discreetly in Emma McCresney's di- reetion.
 Pretty. isn't she?" said Jock. ap- preciatively.
 Know who she is?''
 "Well-I-she does look familiar but"
 "Oh, come now, quit your bluffing. If you'd ever met that dame you re- member 1t. Her names McChesney- Emma McChesney, and she sells T. A. Bucks Featherloom Petticoats. I'll give her her dues; she's the best lit tie salesman on the road. I'll bet that girl could sell a ruffled accordion plaited underskirt to fat woman who was trying to reduce. Shes got the darndest way with her. And at that shes straight, too
 If Ed Meyers had not been gazing so intently into his hat, trying at the same time to look scientifically be- nign he might have seen a quick and painful scarlet sweep the face of the boy, coupled with certain tense look of the muscles around the jaw.
 Well, now, look here" he went on, still in whisper. We're both skirt men, you and me. Everything's fair in this game. Maybe you don't know it, 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 look-in. See? It aint so often that three people in the same line get together like this. She knows it, and she's sitting on the edge of her chair, waiting to bolt when that door opens, even if she does act like she was hanging on the words of that lady clerk there. The minute it does open a crack she'll jump up and give me a feeting, grateful smile, and sail in and cop a fat order away from the old man and his skirt buyer I'm wise. Say, he may be an oyster, but he knows a pretty woman when he sees one. By the time she's through with him he'll have enough petticoats on hand to last him from now until Turkey goes suffrage. Get mel"
 "I get you" answered Jock.
 T say, this is business. and good manners be hanged. When woman breaks into a mans game like this, let her take her chances like a man. Ain't that straight"
 You've said something" agreed Jock.
 Now, look here, kid. When that door opens I get up. See? And shoot straight for the old mans of- fee See? Like duck See? Say. I may be fat, kid, but I'm what they call light on my feet, and when l see an order getting away from me I can be so fleet that I have Diana looking like old Weston doing stretch of muddy country road in a coast to coast hike. See? Now you help me out on this and I'll see that you don't suffer for it. I'll stick in 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 reddened, 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 Sulzberg's private office closed upon Emma McChesney's smart, erect, confident figure.
 Now, Ed Meyers hands were pe- euliar hands for fat man. They were tapering, slender. delicate, blue veined temperamental hands. At this moment, despite his purpling face. and his staring eyes, they were the most i noticeable thing about him. His fin- gers clawed the empty air, quivering, vibrant. as though poised to clutch al Jocks throat.
 Then words came. They spluttered 1 from his lips They popped like corn kernels in the heat of his wrath; they tripped over each other; they ex- ploded
 You darned kid, youl" he began, with fascinating fuency. You thou sand-legged, double-joined. ox-footed truck horse Come on out of here and I'll lick the shine. on your shoes. you blue-eyed babe. you! What did