Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-09
BUSINESS CAREER
OF PETER FLINT
A Story Of S~alesmdnship by
Harold Whitehead
(Convrigh,N
(Copyright)

NJ. whitehead UNU onsUor Vour business
Questions on buvtr1. selling, advertising ana
Employment. ASK pour questions clearly dnd
Dipc all tho facts. Your correct name and
Those tchich arc anonymous must be ignored.
AnsDers :. technical questions tctH be scni
bv NAL. Other questions 9ti be ansDered
IN this column. The most Interesting prob
lens OF tnqutrers tciH be icorcn into ne
storp Of Peter Flint.
CCXCI
THEY'VE gone home and once more
L I'm back again on the Job OF selling
land.
Mother felt tired this morning and
Francis wanted to take Lucy with him
TO look at some cars--they didn't ask
Mary or me to 20 with them. They evi-
IDENTIFY wanted to be by themselves
aren't engaged couples funny!
OF course. II wouldn't have been n
fun for Mary TO stay In the hotel. n
MS mother said she preferred to be
alone. / offered to look after Mary till
lunchtime.
We strolled up Fifth avenue and adj
mired the shops. while l & answered Mary's
questions about Clearvale. ! wish we
had had time to run over there-I
should like Mary to see Sc.
soon we came to a mart jewelry
store, and. like a couple Of sclool kids.
played the old game Of seeing who could
spot the most expensive thing in the
window first.
"Oh, Peter" exclaimed Mary, catch
ing hold OF my arm. what u beautiful
mesh bag" and she pointed to a silver
mesh bag marked S22.50.
Which one2' ! said, pretending /
didn't see II ard catching hold OF her
arm. There we stood close together and
the grip Of her hand on my arm tight
ened unconsciously as she tried TO
make" me see the bag.
] felt n thrill 30 through my whole
frame, and as I peeped under that ha
at her charming face all alight with tho
enjoyment of the moment, 7 couldn't
help but feel glad that J had-had lost
Rosie Lever.
] slipped ~ disensaged hand into my
pocket and felt my "roll'-to be sure 7
had enough for my purpose and when 1
found ] had. in a casual way ! said:
"That reminds me. Mary, i've got TO
drop Ia here for sometliug-come in
with me. will your
She agreed-a little suspicious, per-
haps. and in a few moments We were
seated inside the store.
In esponse to the salesman's ques-
ton, Good morning." I replied, will
you show us some mesh bags. please?"
Peter" whispered Mary in anxious
tones, YOU mustn't do It'll was afraid
you-oh, Peter, 20 mustn't--you should
not"
But I ignored her instructions.
h salesman placed a square OF plain
dark blue velvet on the glass counter
and on Il laid three mesh bags.
My interest in selling caused a passing
thought as to the reason for the sales
no tn1tfra pnd I Gpt,rpI "A pttt tbtia.
He placed the velvet on the glass
top so as TO hide from view the
articles displayed inside the case. That,
Of course, helped to keep Mays attcn-
ton focused on the mesh bags. for N
he had placed them on the glass Itself,
she would have seen the things inside
the Ease at the same time, and thai
would have divided her attention.
Then again, the mesh bag looked 100
per cent better on the velvet than on tho
glass itself.
Here's a unique vanity case. madam.
II has many articles inside Of special
interest to ladies'" The salesman
opened the case as lie placed it on the
He then removed from sight
two Of the bags, which Mary evidently
wasn't pleased with.
That's clever, ! thought. for by re-
those two b2gs he doesn't give
her a chance to think over again and 20
decide again that she didn't care for
them.
Mary picked up the case interestedly
and exclaimed. delighted. isn't that the
most delightfulest thing you ever saw
Peter? See, it has a little mirror. a pair
Of weeny scissors, a-er-a little down
puff in a little silver box and a little
purse-but Peter you really ought not
ii costs "A lot of money--and be-
sides -"
"IIow much is that?" 7 asked bravely
enough. but a bit worried in case after
all 7 h?dn't enough.
That's $2S. It's a most charming de-
sign. isn't it," And he held it up on his
little finger.
Wrap It ur. please" Thank goodness
I'd the price all right.
Protesting sweetly but really pleased,
7 could see, She finally took it, and We
then walked back to the hotel.
We had been away longer than we
thought, for We had TO hurry lunch so
that they could make the train.
| kissed mother and Lucy good-by,
ana shook hands with Mary. "Good-by,
Mary-dear," I stammered. SHE looked
up at me with frank smiling eyes-eyes
that were like two dewy sunkissed
flowers and said GOOD afternoon, Peter
dear"