Evening star., 1920-01-02
DANIEL WILLARD
STARTED ON STRING
Broken Thread in Rug Gave
Him Cue Which Started
!, Way to Fortune.
BY HERBERT COREY.

NEW YORK, January 2.-Somc-
where down town is a small. dark, en-
bttered person who gave Daniel H.
Willard his start in the oil business.
Willard is considerable of factor
in that industry now. He has offices
in New York and Baltimore and else
where, and skmming plants and wells
and the other odorouS appurtenanceS
of the petroleum business. But when
he came to New York some years ago,
from Tennessee
Il hated to put on my shoes" said
he. Seemed like they made me sort
of conspicuous Anyhow, they hurt
my feet"
That is poetic or other license. But
he was admittedly green. He had
emerged from the Tennessee hills
shortly before. driven by whatever
urge 1T is that makes country boys
leave home and found him job in
carpet and rug store in Memphis
He had no particular sentiment for
rugs. but he had a theory that it is
always good thing to know all
things possible about every job one
happens to be on. So that he bought
books about rugs. and kept himself
dismally awake in the public library
while he informed himself about rugs,
and talked to every rug salesman who
knew anything more than the price
mark on the product he peddled BY
and bS he got to be a rug sharp.
though still clinging to his conviction
that the southern end of each pant
ought not to be on familiar terms
with the top end of each shoe. He was
not nifty dresser But he knew
rugs.
Attracted by Auctioneer.
So he came to New York. He had
about 500 and his health and with the
two he bartered for small room on the
EXTREMIST elevation of the old Victoria
Hotel. One day he started for a walk
abroad. After walking until his new
shoes hurt his feet he heard the sound
OF impetuous business in an auction
room on Broadway and dropped in. He
did not want to buy anything. He
merely wanted to lift his feet off the
ground long enough to relieve the con-
gestion.
''Whadda ] hear bid on diz rugk? ,"
asked the auctoneer.
Mr.. Willard was so near the rug that
he could examine it without rising. He
felt that show of intelligent interest
would at least make him a welcome
guest. So he looked at the rug. 1t was
very excellent one. In the corner was
broken thread. After spirited bidding
the rug was knocked down at $50 to an
anxious gentleman.
''Sold!" beloved the auctioneer.
Take it away and wrap it ubp.'
The Same Broken Thread.
30 the rug was paid for and wrapped
up and the buyer took the bundle under
his arm and started happily home.
Other things were sold, and the ache in
Mr.. Wizards feet gradually subsided
Just as he was about ready to totter on
another rug was thrown over the horse
for display. The similarity to the first
rug was so striking that Mr.. Willard
languidly examined 1t. In the corner
was a broken thread. He saw that rug
sold for forty dollars and wrapped up
and taken away. By and by the same
rug was offered again. In the corner
was the same broken thread.
He bid it in for $19. AS the auc-
tioneer's gavel banged down and he
shouted sold" Mr. willard placed one
large. firm hand, hardened by much
handling OF heavy articles in Memphis.
Tenn. upon the corner of the, rug. He
clihched it tight:
Here's twenty dollar BILL" said
he. Keep the change"
But ye'n wrab it ubp," said the auc-
tioneer, anxiously.
MOT this rug. said Mr.. Willard. 'T'll
carry it over my shoulder. always
carry rugs that way"
- Wanted to wrap Up Rug.
The auctioneer and the wrapper and
the clerk and dark-eyed lady and
large man with a hammer followed
Mr.. Willard into the street They i'm
plored him to be good fellow and
he would be arrested If he carries the
rug open like that. They said people
would knock him down and take 1t
from him.
ly. Not me they won't knock down.
Not without being irritated during
the knocking"
He got to the Victoria Hotel, fol-
lowed by small, dark. weeping men.
who by turns threatened and i'm
plored and wrunE their hands There
he hired the floor porter for s. bill
to act as an escort,
First" said Mr.. Willard, you get
a carriage Then you get in with me,
away from me, don't you let 'em.
That's ALL"
So they. rode to one of the great rug
stores of the city. a grim porter
old-fashioned horse carriage and Mr..
willard watching out of the other.
and the brilliant rug spread over
their knees, while despairing pro-
passers-by on the pavement and
shouted bitter words. At, the rug
store Willard offered the booty for
sale. After a consultation the man
ager agreed to buy it.
willard Makes big Profit
81 can only give yeu $3.50 for it,"
said he. But / will be quite frank
in telling you that 1T is worth much
more.
IT was good days work for Will
lard. He took the money and settled
down in New York. Eventually as
related, he became an oil well owner
and all that sort Of thing. He persists
that his success was due to that bit
of luck which gave him sufficient
capital to get along while he learned
his way about the city, and feels that
If he ever meets that small, dark. de-
jected auctioneer he Will at least buy
him a cigar. But it may be that his
habit of thoroughly informing him
self on his job had more to do with
his luck than luck itself