Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-08-08
APe ddling
Partnership
By WARREN MILLER

BY WAiVxkN MllAEN
Johnny Cosgrove, millionaire, deter
mined to marry girl who. didn't know
he was rich and at the same time,a
person of intrinsic worth. s.
John was fond OF an outdoor life,
and his plan. was Influenced by this
taste. He concluded to rig himself up
as peddler, travel through the coun.
try selling such articles, as women
need aud thus make the acquaintance
Of some girl whom he could study in
cognito. He bought an auto delivery
wagon and stocked it with tin pans,
pins and needles, hosiery, shoes, grid
Irons and every article he could think
Of that a woman would want r,
1t was bright spring morning when
Johns loaded auto was brought up be-
fore his house by his man Thomas,
whom he had charged with procuring
the outfit, and John; rugged out in
ready made suit he had bought at q
cheap clothing store and a faded straw,
hat, sailed forth and, taking the wheel.
started on his tour.
III don't get q wife," he said to
himself, ''l'll at least enjoy myself"
Then aloud to Thomas, Forward to-
days mail to- Waverly to Martin H.
vine. I'll keep you posted where to
send it from that on"
Johnny drove of, and a window sash
on the opposite side Of the street was
closed at the same time. A few min
utes latera girl emerged from a front
door beneath the aforesaid window and
hurried down the street.
Johnny struck the road to Waverly,
then began to stop at houses along the
way: He chaffed the wives, chucked
the children under the chin and other
wise made himself agreeable The con-
sequence was that he sold his goods
readily, though he generally made his
prices to suit purchasers: When night
came he put up at the only hotel In
Waverly. ~
In the morning he breakfasted-on
spring chicken-and after the arrival
Of the mail started again on his trav-
els. He had not gone far before he
heard the rattling OF machine behind
him and pulled out to the right to let
it 60 by. As it did so Johnny saw
that its rear was got up to hold sew
ing machine which was strapped down,
and the car was driven by a young
woman, comely, though plainly dress
ed, who called to him to know If the
ROAD held good and for how long.
hn khn inf oh>
desired, and the two fell into CONVEX
sation.>> The girl told Johnny that she
was a sewing machine travelling agent.
She also Informed him that her father
was comfortably of In this worlds
goods, but she didn't propose to sit
around waiting for a husband and
must have occupation.
by Jove," exclaimed Johnny to him
self, chats the kind of girl I'm look
ing forv'
John kept on one side of the road,
the girl on the other, the two moving
side by side except when vehicles pass
ed, at which time John fell behind.
s,'I wish," said John, to her after
awhile, "thaf we could make a double
team of it, joint stock concern, to
take in peddler's goods and sewing
machines"
ooh, we couldn't do that said the
girl, who gave her name as Molly
Sparks, though I'd like to ever SO
much. sometimes feel afraid travel
ing on lonely roads" --,.
whats the objection to partner
ship?" asked John.
II don't think it would be exactly
proper. People would take us for man
and wife, and when they found we
were not they'd talk"
John thought awhile, then proposed
that they should lay out route to-
gether for-the next day, the girl to
put her sewing machine In his motor
car. They would stop for the night at
different hotels, but travel together
during the day. The girl, with appar-
ent reluctance, assented to the plan,
and the next day they carried it out.
But they paid more attention to each
other than to peddling.
This method of travel now kept up
until John was satisfied that he might
go farther and fare worse. The girl
was far above the ordinary country
lass, and John saw an advantage in
marrying in>'his own class. He pro
posed to her, but at first was refused
on the ground that If she married q
peddler her family would disown her
But John was bent on winning her and
finally got her consent to marry hin
without saying anything about it al
home. They could then travel togeth
er with more propriety.
They were married at a country
church and by country parson, anG
after the wedding John said they mus
have rest from work and they mus
20 to his home for awhile in the city
His bride consented, and he took hel
to his palatial residence.
John looked at his bride, expecting
to see establishment depicted In he,
face. Instead, she laid aside he
wraps as If she had always lived there
Didn't you think you were marry
ing peddler?" he asked in-wonder.
mo, I didn't I knew was marry
ing Johnny Cosgrove, millionaire"
'How did you know that?'' askei
John, aghast @ $3.50.
II live q few doors down the stree
and have often. seen you, though yo'
didn' t. know me. I saw you driv'
i aways2s-e8 .peddler. I didn't know