Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-02-21

deduction. that his hands lacked osr-
tainty.
"That does sort Of burst the bub-
BILE, doesn't Well suppose
the next step you want TO take II to
get out Of town."
NO." said Hilliard. TN stay tHi
It's over with"
Harmon gasped.
| "Stay? Stay here after the nows Is
out? What FORT"
II hardly think you'd understand
what I'm staying for. Mr.. Harmon"
The fat broked shook his head In
vigorous protest.
"Now, look herei" Ills voice was
paternally kind. you've been q fine
sport thru this whole business. ex-
cept once. and we won't let that
| bother us now. As salesman
you've been holy wonder. You've
done all expected you'd do, or could
do, and then some. And your fare
up last time was here don't hurt
you with me one little Dit. But hero
we are at the finish. Ny suggestion
to you is to pack your duds and get
out. Call It day and quit. There's
better business somewhere else.
And II your like to plant yourself
in some other good town. say, De-
troit. and"
mo, thanks" billiards smile was
out of genuine humor.
well. aren't you open to convic-
tion" y
mo. don't think am. Please
don't argue--that's final.
"Well, you're sure wou can't do
any more here, aren't your"
"Not a nickel's wortn-even, II I
wanted to. And would you mind
getting down to brass tacks? Other
wise can't see any benefit to either
Of us from prolonging this interview;
can you?"
Harmon inspected him carefully
and seemed to be struck with an In
spiration.
"I'm not sure Of II. at that. Look
here now! I've got an idea! Let's
try to get some benefit out Of It.
| Suppose you got clear OF this mess.
Suppose we straighten 1t out from
top to bottom, Everybody satisfied.
Suppose you got out Of it absolutely
clean; do you think you could take
your experience and your front and
your energy and cash in on some
better businessY"
| HiTliand exclaimed aloud: he could
hardly credit his ears.
What's that?" he managed. II
don't understand"
The brokers' eyes frightened. tits
easy enough If you put your mind to
it. I've told you BEFORE" he said i'm
pressively. I'm out for results. That's
my middle name-R- E. suits. And
not results from minute to minute,
but results in the long run. Now it
does seem to me like an awful shame
to have you oonae up here and spend
all this time and money flub- clubbing
around, and then have it all over
with, and nothing to show for it but
a lot Of bellyaching customers. OF
course we've made little money. but
when we let this scheme wind up In
big howl from everybody we've got
into it we're losing the cumulative
value Of you. And It's you that was
the backbone Of the whole idea. Now
this Is only passing thought, but
let's consider tt-which way would
be the best for us in tho long rum, to
close UP this deal and get out from
under, and take a little profit and be
in dutch here forever, or to be q
couple OF philanthropists and play
strong for the future?"
How do you meanT' Hilliard was
afire with hope.
The brokers' smile was every mo-
ment more broadly ingratiating.
Why, suppose should hand you
back every cent you've collected and
paid in. This is Just suggestion-I
want your opinion on it. You 60
round to your subscribers; tell 'em
| the mine isn't as promising as you
thought it was; you're going to make
good; give EN- their money back.
Now-if you did that and let a first
class impression everywhere, could
you start from scratch all over again
and sell enough honest-to- goodness
conservative stuff = municipals, or
like that-to those same people to
make up the difference?" He was
studying his companion keenly.
billiards eyes blazed; the; au dacity
Of the suggestion was obscured by
the possibility Of honor that it con-
tanned. "Yes!" he said thickly. Eyes!
You bet couldT'S
And you wouldn't be afraid to
keep on working for me? That Is, If
we got this silverbow scheme all
Numbered clean before we started
something elseH"
mot If YOU"
"Then isten?" The brokers' voice
was soft and homiletical. you've
thought some hard things about me.
Maybe you had some cause; I'm not
disputing that. But / guess you've
forgotten something. Something I
told you when we first got together.
I told you If you got me what
wanted I'd help you get what you
want. Well you've done your best.
I got to give you credit. And maybe
you've changed some of my ideas
too. Maybe you've sort of worked me
around to believing I haven't given
you a square deal. Well-let the past
bury its dead. I've got more than
one string to my bow; I'm sort Of
tired of the old line OF stun; I'm
thinking seriously of cutting it all
out and going in for the safe and
sane. It isn'tso Juicy. but It's safe.
Am right or am wrong? All the
cards on the table-Im no fool, Hill
liard-and the bottoms failing out
of this promotion game. So If you
think you can blossom out into q
legitimate salesman Of nigh grade
bonds-of course there wouldn't be
nearly as much in it for you've