Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-11-02

BOD etrolled into the stately showroom
With it, high-backed Flemish-oak;
chairs, its great carved tables, it, pam;
eled wallis with their antlered decora-
lions. This. II may be said, was NOT i
enop. not z store where clothes were
sold. but q studio where mems dissss
dncdve garments were draped, and the
difference was perfectly apparent on
the frst Of each month. d, !,
Hurts, !" began Bob, abruptly, II
just bet Dick Cady i've thousand dol.
lars that I can make my own living
for ssix month";" This falsehood hous
bled him vaguely until he remembered
that high finance must be often CON.
Quoted behind veil.
Ar. Hurts, genial, shrewd, ray.
raised admiring eyes and said:
iii take another i've thousand"
But Bob declined. "No, I'm going
to work. "a
This announcement interested the
tailor deeply. who's going to hire
youl" he asked.
You are.'' u az
Kurts blinked. Maybe you'd Hike:
TO bet on that, too, he ventured. "I'Hs
give you odds.n
'Work ID one of the few things
haven't tried. You need good sales
man."
mo, don't. have seven already. :, !:
"Say, wouldn't you like the trade Of
the whole younger set I can bring
you lot Of fresh customersfe fellows
Ike me-"
"'Fresh customers is right" laughed
Kurtx, then sobered quickly. You're
Joking, % course7"
s'I'm 30 serious could cry. How
much II It worth to you to make clothes
for my ayowd7'
swell" the tailor considered.
"Quite BIT" z
"The boys like to see Dick trimmed
its matter Of principle with them
never to let him win a stand they'd
do anything for me. You're the best
tailor In the city, but too conservative;
Now I'm going to bring you fifty new
accounts. every one good for better
than two thousand year. That's al
hundred thousand dollars. How much
am offered7 Going! Goingl" r
"Wait a minute! Would you stick
to me for six months IL took you on7s'J
my dear Kurtz, I'll poultice myself
upon you for life. I'll guarantee my
self not to slide, slip, wrinkle or skid.
Thirty years hence, when you come
hobbling down to business, you'll find
me here"
Mr.. Kurtz dealt In novelties, and the
idea Of a society salesman was sum
ciently new to appeal to his CONNER
.cial sense. X
.I'll pay you twenty per cent" he
offered, nfor all the new names you put
on my books"
snake It twenty-five on first orders
and twenty on repeaters. I'll bring my
own luncheon and pay my car far"
.There wouldn't be any profit left"
|tdemurred Kuftz.
/ "Good! Then it's bargain-twenty-
i've and twenty. Now watch me grab
adolescent offshoots Of our famous
-Four Hundred" Bob took bus up
the avenue to the College sclub for
luncheon.
q At three O'clock he returned, accom-
panied by four flushed young men
whose names gave Kurtz thrill. In
spite Of their modish appearance they
declared themselves indecently shabby,
/ and allowed Bob to order for them
q favor which he performed with ra-
jah's lofty disregard Of expense. He
sat upon one Of the carved tables, se-
lecting samples as IL for quartet
Of bridegrooms. Being bosom croniea
Of Mr.. Cady. the four youths needed
little urging. When they had gone in
to be measured Kurtz said guardedly,
"whew! That's more stun than I've
sold In two weeks!"
"a mere trifle," Bob grinned, hap
PLY. "say. Kurtz, this is the life!
This is the job for mepanhandling
Juvenile plutocrats no Office hours,sno
heavy lifting, and Thursdays on. I'm
going to make you famous"
"You'll break me with another run
like this. You don't think they're bluff
fng?"
"why should they blun7 They'll
never discover how many suits they
have. Now figure 1t up and tell the
bad news"
Mr.. Kurtz did as directed, announc.-
ing, "Fifty-five hundred and I've dol.
lars" /.
aPikersv exclaimed the new sales
man; then he began laboriously to COM
pute % per cent OF the sum, using as
q pad bolt Of expensive white silk
vest material. Thirteen hundred and
seventy-six dollars and twenty-five
cents is my blackmail, Kurtz. That's
what / call a safe and sane Fourth
Not bad for dull times, ana yet if
might be better. Anyhow, it's the
hardest thirteen hundred and seventy
six dollars ever earned
aHardr' The merchants Hips
twitched. oscillating his cigar violently.
"Hardl I'll bet those fellows even
bought your lunch. suppose you mean,
tits the first money you eyer-earned. =
HE seemed to choke over the last word.
.s'Well, It's worth something to get men
like these ON the books, but thirteen
hundred and seventy-six dollars
,"And twenty-five CENTS :, q
Mr.. Kurtz gulped. "In one dayl
why, could buy. farm for that.
IlHow much will you have to earn, 10
cover your living expenses for M