Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1920-02-12
CHAPTER II.-Continued.

The younger man glanced at the
card MY name is billiard. Well
is competition so keen you can afford
to pay that high for business, or is
the stuff just hard to SELF"
Harmon who had begun to nod as
sent to the first question, looked rather
blank at the second, but rallied
quickly.
"Competition. But there's money In
it, and you'll get your share of it too
believe me! I've got a snealling sus-
picion that YOU and can do business
together. Want to consider it?"
"All this on such short aCquaint-
ance? Aren't you taking a fearful
chance?"
Harmon saw that the young mans
iriSes We're extremely luminous and
clear; he leaned forward seriously.
"Im simply backing my bunch, son. In
the long run it pays me-pays me
WELL I've sort of taken a fancy to
you. AS far as | know you may be
the rOttpnest salesman in the whole
United States; I wouldn't hire your
experience without some references,
and maybe a surety company back of
yOu but I'd hire that face of yours,
and your manner, and your voice off
hand. I'd hire your front-not your
past! And let me tell you right now,
son, 1 never made q trade as fast as
this before in my life. But there's
something about YOU that : g.. WellF
The young man was thoughtful and
unblinkihg.
"You're actually making me a prop
osition, are your.
bsolutely"-Harmon's fist on the
table provided The exclamation point.
"Here-I don't know you, and you
don't know me, but if you're hunting
for job you've found it. It's
your next move"
The young mans lips parted In
grave good humor; Harmon was spell
bound at the effect.
"I'll try not to keep you waiting.
This speed of yours rather entices me,
Besides, if my face is my fortune, I'd
better find it out as soon as possible
This organization of yours is in New
York, city. isn't it?"'.
my headquarters are, but I'd want
you to work outside. I've got one spe-
cial town in mind-up the state. That's
where this list is. It's always been
one of our hardest markets, and It's
got money to burn. Can't swing it.
somehOw-they don't respond to any
ordinary selling talk; they're too hide
bound conservative. You know the
kind. Government bond crowd. And
for a year or 50 they've been making
war profits till you can't see 'em fol
dust. Manufacturing town. And I'd
like mighty well to ship you up there
for month or two; give you time
enough TO get your bearings, and turr
you loose. You ought to do great work
in a place like that. They need char
like yOu-cOnfOund it" He halted
abruptly and shook his head in grea1
bewilderment. 81 can't make it out
at all! You've got the appearance Of
a we'll a sort of strait-lace(
yOungster, if you know what | mean
and yet the way you say things, /
The young man gestured blandly.
"And the town you have in mindY
Its Syracuse, New York"
"Syracuse?' The young mans CHR
was squared by a ruler, and noticeabl!
thrust forward.
Eyes; know anybody thereW
Hnliard laughed unpleasantly ant
resumed his former attitude.
"Why, it 50 happens" he said bit
ing the words off sharply, "that | wa
born and brought up in Syracuse, ant
If there's any one place in the worlt
] care less about than any other plac,
that's the one Tn sorry, bu
I'm afraid we're at cross purpose
from here on
Harmon showed his veXation
"What's the matter? Haven't you KEEP
on good terms with your old friends?
"NO"
Harmon froWned
"Well. is it so bad you couldn't d
any business there? How do they re
member you"
The young man regarded him ston
fly for an instant; then gradually
far.away expression crept into hi
eyes; he started and caught hi
breath.
"Ill let you judge for yourself" II
brought out a fiat leather wallet, fror
which he extracted a tiny photograph
torn from an old passport. "What
you think Of that"
Harmon scanned 1t specifically.
"Nice-looklng boy. Who Is he?"
"Tt was taken two years ago." sal
billiard, resting his elbows on tn
table. "You wanted to know how the
remember me, so I'm showing yol
That's photograph of me, taken tw
years ago"
Impossible" Harmon snorted |
'That doesn't look any more like yo