Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-11-16
A NOVEL or NEW YORK LIFE
6HRFX BEACH \ r
ILLUSTRATIONS %FPARKER

much as horse racing was no longer
fashionable, opportunities for a Pitts
burgh Phil future seemed limited
Moreover, he had never saved a jock
ey's life nor Jockeys mother from
eviction, hence feedbox tips were not
likely. Nor did he know a single soul
in the business of inventing rat-traps
or shoe buttons. AS for going west.
he was clearly of the opinion that a
search for abandoned gold mines or
forgotten waterfalls wasn't in his line;
and the secret of creosoting railroad
ties, now that he came to think of it,
was still locked up in the breast of its
affluent discoverer. Besides, as the
whole episode had occurred in the Sec
ond act of the play, the safety of
building upon it was doubtful at best.
Bob's wrinkled brow smoothed itself,
and he nodded. His path was plain; it
led around the nearest corner to his
tailor's door.
Mr.. Kurtz's greeting was warm as
Bob strolled into the stately showroom
'NNH Ito Il
chairs, its great carved tables, it's pan
eled walls with their antlered decora-
lions. This, it may be said, was not a
shop, not store where clothes were
sold, but a studio where mems dis
tinctive garments were draped, and the
difference was perfectly apparent on
the first of each month.
"Kurtz," began Bob, abruptly, 81
just bet Dick Cady five thousand dol
lars that can make my own living
for six months" This faIsehood trou-
bled him vaguely until he remembered
that high finance must be often con-
Quoted behind q veil.
Mr.. Kurtz, genial, shrewd, gray,
raised admiring eyes and said:
"Pll take another five thousand"
But Bob declined. mo, I'm going
to work.
This announcement interested the
tailor deeply. who's going to hire
your" he asked.
"You are"
Kurtz blinked. "Maybe you'd like
to bet on that, too" he ventured. "Ill
give you Odds"
work is one of the few things
haven't tried. You need a good sales
man."
mo, don't. l have seven already"
"Say, wouldn't you like the trade of
the whole younger set? can bring
you a lot of fresh customers-fellows
like me-"
Fresh customers is right" laughed
Kurtz, then sobered quickly. you're
joking, of course?"
'I'm so serious l could cry. How
much is it worth to you to make clothes
for my crowd?"
"Well-" the tailor considered.
"Quite bit"
"The boys like to see Dick trimmed
its a matter of principle with them
never to let him win bet-and 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 a year. That's
thousand dollars. How much
am offered? Going! Going!-"
"Wait a minute! Would you stick
to me for six months if took you on?"
"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
down to business, you'll find
me here"
Mr.. Kurtz dealt in novelties, and the
idea of a society salesman was suffi-
GENTLY new to appeal to his CONNER
cial sense.
"I'll pay you twenty per cent" he
"for 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 fare"
'sThere wouldn't be any profit left,'S
demurred Kurtz.
"Good! Then it's bargain-twenty-
five and twenty. Now watch me grab
offshoots of our famous
Four Hundred" Bob took a bus up
the avenue to the College club for
luncheon.
At three O'clock he returned, accom-
panied by four flushed young men
whose names gave Kurtz a thrill. In
spite of their modish appearance they
declared themselves indecently shabby,
and allowed Bob to order for them
a favor which he performed with ra-
jah's lofty disregard of expense. He
sat upon one Of the carved tables. Sc
lecting samples as If for a quartet
of bridegrooms. Being bosom cronies
of Mr.. Cady, the four youths needed
little urging. When they had gone in
to be measured Kurtz said guardedly:
"Whew! That's more stuff than I've
sold in two weeksw
"a mere trihe," Bob grinned, hap
PLY. "Say, Kurtz, this is the life!
This is the job for me--panhandline
juvenile plutocrats-no Office hours, no
heavy lifting, and Thursdays off. Pm
going to make you famous"