Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-02
BUSINESS CAREER
OF PETER FLINT
a Story Of S~alesmanship by
Harold Whitehead
tCopyytohtj
tCopyrdhfl

questions on SsDino. selling. advertising and
sire oii the facts. Your correct name aud
sSH address must be oircn to oil Inquiries.
Ans,eers to technical questions ,oili DC sent
ov mail. Other questions ioiil be anstcercd
lens Of inou'rer1 eli TOE be ,ooreS ito fSt
story Of Peter Flint.
CLXXXI
IF SOME one had entered my room
i and told me I was elected Mayor or
New York I wouldn't have been more
surprised than 1 was last Saturday eve
ming to see Francis Graham enter look
Ing all in.
He was dressed as we'll as ever and
all that, but he looked as i'll don't
know how to say it-as If all his pep
had been used up--1 know-he looked as
II he was licked.
He dropped his grip YEARLY on the
floor, tossed his hat and coat on the
bed and sank down into my easy chair"
That easy chair! - It's a rocker in
which your life is in peril II you at
tempt to rock. It's a wooden affair that
has three distinct squeaks. There's one
Whitney. grumbly squeak which COM
plains when you sit in the old chair.
There's the grunt. short and gruff, when
you rock back and then there's a long
triumphant shrek when you go for
ward and the too short rocker lets the
chair tip to an angle that slides you to
the floor unless you are quick enough
to brace your legs.
The only way to stay In that fendish
chair is to prop it back with your legs
or, as I do. wedge the rocker with books.
We'll, well. Francis l said. again
shaking his hand, welcome to our palace
once more. Come for a few days quiet
from the whirl of Hammervirer
YES. Peter" he said, kind Of hopeless
like. I'm back. back to stay. The air
In Hammerville doesn't seem to agree
with me-"
Say. what are you raving about? ?"
I'm back, old man. I'm a dullard.
fear. while l thought was clever.
The combination was too clever for me-"
Gee. Francis" l said, real upset. tell
us about it,"
Nothing to tell he answered YEARLY.
A soon as the Consolidated had my
patent rights on my machine they ma
neuvered me out Of the company. The
bank told me bluntly that they fenred I
cou!dn hold up the business. They
decided in those few weeks that 7 wasn't
big enough and wouldn't be. Think Of
, II, Peter! An obvious frame-up. They
p''A'sSVu rear toT tnt SaIeIy OF their
loan. Well, never mind the details. Suf-
fce It to say that Pillsbury and Question
joined forces with the bank, and while
my contract secured me for q year at
least. things became so unpleasant that
| sold out and resigned"
Francis. old man. I'm awfully sorry.
l nope you made q good trade"
you needn't be sorry. boy. I'll get
along somehow. Sold out was sold
Out, would be more correction seventy
five hundred cash"
The robbers !" I cried. clean hot
They offered you ten thousand before,
and the common stock"
Il Know. know. They were too
: smart for me. They decided to trim me
and did II. Now, let's not talk
about 1t n more. How are things
prospering at the Magnitude"
Fine" But I was worried over
Francis. 80 I said. What are you-that
| is-have you-will you"
Yes" He almost laughed. Don't
be afraid of hurting my feelings. I've
got something to dc. That's not the
trouble. I. had several offers as soon az
decided to accept the "kIck-out." &C.
cepted a position as credit manager for
; the Republic Cutlery Company and shall
take up my duties next Monday"
r What kind Of a concern are they?" ]
= asked.
n They are a big concern, making a
line OF table cutlery suited to the me-
dunn and cheap trade. They do a little,
very little. export business. They sell
o to retail stores. drug stores
department stores and some speciality
stores. In addition to selling the goods
/ they make direct to the retailer. they
. also act as agents and jobbers for al
o kinds of cutlery and kindred lines. The,
Q sell the "X-press" safety razor, tGile,
articles of all kinds. certain lines O!
kitchen ware, domestic electric and gas
a appliances and such goods. They hav,
a more than sixty statesmen and branch
10 offices In Atlanta, Boston. Chicago ant
Denver"
a Wow! Some chunk Of granolithic." -.
"Oh, yes - responded Francis, the,
are a really worthwhile concern. Ant
my position with them is quite impor.
tant."
o l felt much better at hearing that. -
don't see that you have such a lot t.
70 howl about. after all. old man"
MOI" He got up from the chair ant
began to pace the little room.
% Peter. old chum, / told you
- l wanted to make a big success, not fol
70 myself, but l hoped that | could max,
good in a big way so l could talk freel,
10 to your sister"
al Francis ~ / cried. You mean Lucy
You really-say. that's great! Hav
Il you heard from her lately?"
al He shook his head. Il can't write I'll
lie I'm making good"
al II will, then" And then I remem
bered my row with dad over Rosie an,