The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-02-02

nated as shrewd. a live wire, and all
that. Ned went slow-but sure. He
could not afford to take Constance
around in an automobile nor send
her hve-dollar-a-dozen roses. For all
that she seemed to enjoy a drive in
the old-fashioned phaeton. and the
drst wild daisies that Ned walked
miles to discover.
One day Ned, passing through the
stock room of the big wholesale store.
was hailed by Joel.
Il say, Travers," called .out the lat
ter, help me a trife. will you? Just
get up on that step ladder and throw
down that row of boxes"
There was a great long table and
this was soon piled man high with
the boxes. AS Ned got down from the
ladder, his task accomplished, he was
amazed to see Joel jump up or the
table and fling himself into the midst
of the heap. He paved over the
boxes, he rolled, he struck out with
his fists, he jumped about the pile
until it presented a great mass Of
w~reckage.
"Therel" he cried exultantly. that
will do"
For what?" uttered the bewildered
Ned.
why, there's nine hundred gross
Of imported Swiss dress trimmings in
that heap of boxes. The season is
past and hey're dead stuff. I'm go
ing to put them out as a damaged
job lot. sell EN- off and get rid of the
truck"
do you think that is wiser" in
terrogated Ned.
why not?" challenged Joel,
bristling a trife at a criticism on his
judgment.
Well" responded Ned 'of course
you know all about the selling end
of the business here, but at the buy
ing end my point of view is different.
/ have noticed in u foreign corre-
spondence that the head of the firm,
who is in Germany, has written that
there is a hint of war, in which ase
prices would go up and shipments
become difficult. He has sent on a
lot of invoices, showing extensive pur-
chases, as if in anticipation of a
dearth-"
"Nonsensei" derided the s~elf-con-
ceited Joel. you don't suppose lit
tie Switzerland is going to war, do
you? Say, | never make a mistake.
I'll rid the house of that junk heap
and make a good profit on it,"
Which shrewd-selling Joel did.
Then came the news of war and close
on the heels of the announcement the
head of the firm returned.
Two days later the amazing news
went the rounds of the establishment
that Joel had resigned" Later Ned
got wind of a storm.
1t appeared that, knowing of the
surplus Swiss stock on hand, the head
of the firm had not ordered any new
material. The war had closed all inn
ports. There was little of that espe-
cial brand Of goods in the country
and prices had advanced four hum
dred per cent. Joel had lost to the
house possible profits of over ten
thousand dollars.
Immediately upon the announce
ment of war, Ned had sat up nights
preparing a clear schedule of the
lines of merchandise that would be
affected. He was called into the pri-
vate office of his chief later, to re-
ceive the warmest commentator and
a substantial raise in salary.
stability and usefulness versus
plunging and trickery," was the re-
mark the chief made in an allusion
to the %precocious Joel. On the
strength of the raise Ned proposed
to Constance.
Yes" was her sweet answer and
yes" it would have been long ago,
Ned learned, if he had only known
that long since pretty Constance had
seen through the sham and glitter of
Joel Quinby's ~extravagant preten-
sions.