Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-29
Business Career
of Peter Flint
A Story of Salesmanship
by Harold Whitehead
fCopvrioht)

ana ttuptOUHlefI. AsN
aud pivs al The facts Yogr ogrteo' to ali n'ge IL.
aud JuH address must be ns,,,uops S'0n,u W ,nnst
Sss 81 USoroa 0ss srsSsrs c.fs 70 tecoa amGsiosss
rin 1e sent bg man the most interest.
ino probiems OF tTgmirics wiIi be wooen INTO
the storV OF Peter Flint.
XIX
TNTIERE was a regular rurnpus :"
| office today. A young feiiow WHY
had been selling quite lot OF se'I ~.
the "r,,imax Collection of American Li.,
erature" went TO old swivel ana 'o'"
him that he was going TO leave h''''
.svbv Won can't think of doing tnat'
nv Young friend" said Swivel planuiy,
"you are making too much h'o"eS q"
this business"
"It isn't Just a question OF Toney'
Nr Swivel" replied the youns ,e"ow'
"but there's nothing ahead OF TINS !oo'
and, while It has been excellent eNper.
once for me, / cannot anord 10 "a''e
anv more time on blind alley.
"Do YOU call a Job when Is pay,ns
you more than fifty week u' ~,
alley? what do you think OF pe'"s
I'm training to be a iawyer' ,an, %
,.r,iie annreciate that have been
making big money, u does"'
anywhere, Mr.. Swivel" s
$50, YOU think that selling booNs anu
making f1fty a week Is a dead-enu Ioo'
| while 10 become q lawyer Is prosres
! sive one. | wonder IL you Know WI!
| clever young man, that the aNerase
/ corninrs of lawyers all over the country
are about fifteen n week, and you thihh
| that "a a progressive job! You can
! AFFORD to spoil a good book salesman oy
turning him into a second-ratc lawyer!
But, hope to be a good IaW!eI'
At any rate, I've made up my hiinu ~
try. so thought 1 would make an 40.
| ilstmept with you and turn over what
| lead, I have to one OF the other men
| I have several good prospects lined up
| which can easily be turned into goou
business. and I shall be very glad to
Give Won all the data ] can. BY my
oguring." and here he pulled out little
notebook, "just s266 Is yet to come to
me-"
"For what?" asked Swivel in a sur
| prised tone.
"lror balance of commissions on sets
not vet paid for in full. Now, Mr..
| Swivel, would you care to pay me--say
two hundred and call it off. or send me
a check each month for the commits
sion which is coming to me? I don't
mind which way you do it-whatever
| suits YOU will suit me-"
"But II you leave, my friend, there
won't be a penny due YOU"
"what do you meang' asked the
| Young man in a surprised tone.
"why, YOU must remember that told
YOU distinctly that your commissions
would come TO you so long as you were
working for me, but II you left they
would cease"
DO you mean to say" the young
mans voice began to rise, that just
because / come to you man fashion and
tell you I'm going to leave that you'll
double-cross me and do me out Of my
commlssion?'
Swivel jumped up. struck a pose and
said In roaring tones: 'IIow dare you
sneak to me like this in my office, you
Young whipper-snapper! I'll have you
arrested for trying to blackmail me.
accept your resignation-go at once or
I'll have you thrown out Of the Office
you bum"
The young fellow opened and shut his
mouth several times as IL about to say
something.
couldn't help laughing because he
looked so much like a goldfish.
lie finally turned around and, without
another word. left the office. Swivel
saw me smile, so he said: what dc
you think Of that impudent young puppy
expecting me to pay him money which
he hasn't earned and which may never
he paid? How do 7 know that hall
that business on which I've paid him
commission isn't crooked?"
you've only paid him on what's ac.
tually been paid to you," said voice.
, We both looked around to see who
had Joined US. 1t was Bartlett. Tic
grinned at Swivel, shrugged his ehoul.
ders and added: II don't blame you SC
long as you can get away with 1t. AIRS
: fair in love, war and the book business. >
"Really, Bartlett.' demonstrated