Rock Island Argus., 1917-11-14
The Daily
Short Story
A COLLEGE PRDDLER.
BY Alan Hinsdale.

Billy waterman had gone 10 college
with a rich father behind him, and
had gotten away with three thousand
dollars Of his fathers money. spend
| ing thousand a year on himself, when
MIR. Waterman's business went to
smash and there was not thousand
cents for Billy's senior year.
| Billy had good grit and made up his
mind that he would make the money
needed for his senior year. Seeing
an ad for canvassers for a new kind
of cooking utensils. he answered it. He
was invited to call on the advertiser.
He did so, and an arrangement was
made by which he was to SELL on
commission. the wares for the con-
cern manufacturing the articles.
| Billy's social position had been at
the top round Of the ladder. He hae
| not climbed to it; he was born on It.
He~had the energy necessary TO carry
out his plan, but to go forth as a solic-
itor was the great ogre that he had
to combat. He sllrank from soliciting
from his acquaintances, eonfning him.
self to strangers. He had a good ar
ticle to sell and was well fitted to dem
ionstrate it. Nevertheless, in the be-
gining he met with little success.
One morning he mounted the steps
of a. stone-front dwelling and was
about to ring the bell when the door
was opened by young lady in walk
ing costume Billy had his samples
hanging to his arm. peddler-lke. The
young lady locked at him in a way
sthat made him feel q desire to vanish,
but he stood his ground, saying:
81 have some valuable implements
for cooking which l would like TO
show the lady of the house"
"The lady OF the house is not in,''
was the reply, ''but | will look at your
wares"
She invited Billy in and listened at
tentiyely to his demonstration When
he had finished. without asking the
price OF the articles. she said she
would take them Billy told her that
those he had with him were samples
and took her order in book he car
ried for the purpose. mentioning that
i the goods would be sent from the fac
: tory He also stated the price, which
did not seem to interest the young
: | lady. Then he took his departure,
2 congratulating himself on the ease
L with which he had made the sale. and
at the same time relieved at having
escaped from acting the drummer to
h young lady who it would seem more
e fitting that he should dance the CO.
{ tillion.
.ei A few days later. on going to the
IS office of the firm, he was handed let
,r @er written in a delicate hand, his own
! name being written on the envelope
The writer stated that the culinary
articles he had sold her had been so
=. satisfactory that she had recon-
;, mended them to a number of her
2 friends. Then followed half dozen
81 names of persons to whom he was re-
= quested to send the articles.
= Billy was puzzled TO know how the
. young lady had learned his name He
; had not left card, nor had he spoken
. his name 10 her. He asked the person
. who had shipped the goods if his name
IL had been brought into the shipment in
any way The man could not remem-
iber, but he did not see why the men
g ton of Billy's name should have been
Or necessary.
sh During the vacation period Billy
s succeeded in making commissions
~ enough to put him through his senior
e. year at college. He was puzzled by
he the fact that while he had very poor
he success in making sales directly. he
to had excellent success in making them
III indirectly. Orders were continually
is sent in to he credited to him from per
h. - I,a-f
es ing solicited. He often left his bust
e ness card with persons who said the1
e. would think it over" but he did nol
es often succeed in connecting the name;
d. of those who sent in orders with thest
$ persons.
s. Billy's standing for his senior veal
ee was far better than any other year
g He had worked for what he was get
be ting and therefore appreciated it. HI
Cd was given an appointment to speak OF
commencement day, and while deiiv
ering his oration. his eye lighted on
T familiar face in the audience Il VA
= the girl TO whom he so easily soil
~ a set Of kitchen utensils. She wa
VI looking up at him with great interest
Billy came very near being throw
ns off the thread of his discourse b
70 thus suddenly seeing the girl WHOM
ss he had supposed only knew him as
pe peddler of kitchen utensils Fl
'h stopped and stammered for whilt
~ but righted himself and proceeded.
N , That evening the graduating clas
ne gave a dance and again Billy's ey
1at lighted on the girl whom he had me
1se as a peddler She was dancing wit
al one of his classmates, Billy "cut in
Ok that is. he touched the man wit
Us. whom she was dancing on the shou
a der. Signifying that he desired to dane
with his partner. The girl, in turnin
to Billy, smiled merrily
ant After a brief spin the two move
lis away from the throng and Billy aske
ac- how she had learned his name Sh
an told him that she had danced wit
in him in his halcyon days. She knew {
the the cutting of of his support and. al
art miring his pluck, had interested he
raj self in securing customers for hin
at Indeed most Of them had con
tes through, her
Billy is making a success in lii
and it is rumored that he will MARI
- the girl who helped him through b
,ss ,sa senior year in college.