The Washington herald., 1920-10-04
AN O.HENRY STORY
The Buyer from Cactus City
T is we'll that hay fever and

VI SdCluS lily
Texas, for the dry goods empor-
ium of Navarro and Plat, situated
there, is not to be sneezed at.
Twenty thousand people in Cac-
tus City scatter their silver coin
with liberal hands for the things
that their hearts desire. The bulk
OF this semi-prccious metal goes
to Navarro and Platt. Their huge
brick building covers enough
ground to Craze a dozen head of
sheep. You can buy of them a
rattlesnake-skinn necktie. an auto
latest style, ladies' tan coat in
twenty different shades. Navarro
and Platt first introduced pennies
west OF the Colorado River. They
had been ranchmen with business
heads, who saw that the world
did not necessarily have 10 cease
its revolutions after free grass
went out.
Every spring, Navarro, senior
partner. 55, half Spanish cos
mopolitan, able, polished, had
gone on" to New York to buy
goods. This year he SHE'D at tax
ing up the long trail. He was un-
doubtedly growing older; and he
looked at his watch several times
day before the hour came for his
siesta.
John" he said, to his junior
partner, you shall go on this year
to buy the goods"
Platt looked tired.
I'm told" he said, that New
York is a plumb dead town; but
I'll go. can take a whirl in San
Antonio for a few days on my way
and have some fun"
Two weeks later a man in a
Texas full dress suit-black frock
coat, broad-brimmed soft white
hat, and lay-down collar, 3-4 inch
high, with black, wrought iron
necktie-entered the wholesale
cloak and suit establishment of
Zizzbaum and Son. on lower
Broadway.
Old Zizzbaum had the eye of an
osprey, tho memory of an ele-
phant and a mind that uufolded
from him in three movements like
the puzzle of the carpenters rule.
He rolled to the front like a
brunette polar bear, and shook
Platt's hand.
And how is the good Mr.. Navarro
in TeXas?" he said. The trip was
too long for him this wear. so?
& We welcome Mr.. Platt instead"
"a bull's-eye.' said Platt, and
I'd give forty acres OF unirrigatcd
Pecos County land to know how
you did it."
Il knew" grinned Zizzbaum.
:'just as I know that tho rainfall
IN El Paso for the year was 2S.j
inches, or an increase of 10 in
ches. and that therefore Navarro
and Platt will buy a $4,000 stock
of suits this spring instead OF slO,-
900 as in a dry year. But that will
be tomorrow. There is first a
cigar in my private office that will
remove from your mouth the taste
of the ones you smuEGle across
the Rio Grande and Iike-becaUse
they are smuggled."
1t was late in the afternoon and
business for the day had ended.
Zizzbaum left Platt with a half
smoked cigar and came out of the
private Office to Son, who was
arranging his diamond scarfpin
before a mirror ready to leave.
"Abey." he said, you will have
to take Mr.. Plat around tonight
and show things. They are Gus
toners for ten years, Mr.. Navarro
and I, we played chess every mo-
mont Of spare time when he came.
That is good. but Mr.. Platt is a
young man and this is his first
visit to New York. lie should
amuse easily
All right" said Abcy, screwfng
the guard tightly on his pin. I'll
take him on. After he's seen the
Flatiron and the head waiter at
the Hotel Astor and heard the
phonoEraph play Under the Old
Apple Tree it'll be half past ten
and Mr.. Texas will be ready to roll
up in his blanket. I've got a sup
per engagement at 1l:30, but he'll
be all to the Mrs. Winslow be-
fore then"
The next morning at 10 Platt
walked into the store ready to do
business. He had a bunch of
hyacinths pinned on his lapel
Zizzbaum himself waited on him.
Navarro and Plat were good GUS
toners, and never failed to take
their discount for cash.
And what did you think of our
little town." asked Zizzbaum, with
the fatuous smile of the .Manhat-
tanite.
Il shouldn't care to live in it,"
said the Texan. Your son and l
knocked around quite a little last
night. You've got good water, but
Cactus City is better lit up"
We've got a few lights on
Broadway, don't you think, Mr.
Platt?"
And a good many shadows"
said Platt. II think like your
horses best. I haven't seen a
crowbait since I've been in town"
Zizzbaum led him up. stairs to
show the samples of suits
ASK Miss Asher to come" he
said to a clerk.
Miss Asher came, and Platt, OF
Navarro and PIatt, felt for the
first time the wonderful bright
light of romance and glory de-
scend upon him. lie stood still
as a granite cliff above. the Can
yon of the Colorado, with his wide
open eyes fixed upon her. She
noticed his look and flushed a lit
tie, which was contrary to her
custom.
Miss Zizzbaum was the crack
model of Zizzbaum and Son. She
was of the blond type, known as
medium" and her measurements
even went the required 3S-25-42
standard a little better. She had
been 1t Zizzbaum's two years, and
knew her business. Her eye was
bright, but cool; and had she
chosen to match her gaze against
tho optic of the famed basilisk,
that fabulous monsters gaze
would have wavcred and softened
first. Incidentally she knew
buyers.
Now, Mr.. Platt," said Zizzbaum,