Pueblo chieftain., 1921-10-09

Th- life of book agent is far from
being the happiest lot and to some
persons at some times 1t iS the most
miserable but to Benny Barr 1t was
one continuous round of JOY 10 a
different man the book-agency bust
ness is a source of constant, trepld
agony. At each fresh door his limbs
trcmble and he is Obliged TO goad ms
reluctant will to meet fresh and IN
sulting rebuff. Not so Benny. Benny
would not have known diffidence If ii
stared him in the face. His feelings
were as tough as raw leather. he was
young, brisk, hustling and forceful ana
when he was thrown down he did
nor pruise-he bounced To Benny each
new prospect was an oportunity 10
enjoy a battle. When he managed TO
force his way into a house and sell q
copy of aunt James Cook Book
Cprice $500. bound in oilcloth, fifty
cents down and the balance on deliv-
erv), he was happy. and when he at
tackled the enemy and was saielessly
routed he laughed-it was good JOKE
ON Benny.
or advanced styles. He said he lfke,
his clothes to have little "zipp' TO
them, and his manners suggested that
he did not believe in a young man De
ing too crushed and downcast. Hls
manners were so free from tifnlalty' IN
fact. that the usual remark after he
had left a house was. Welt he is
about tho freshest youth ! ever did
see!-
Benny swung off the train at the
suburb OF westcote and made a bee
line for the best residence street. His
instinct was almost infalliole when
residence streets were in question; not
once in forty times did he fall to
guess correctly. and IL he did fall IT
made no difference TO Benny. IT, in
stead of reaching a street of neat sub
urban homes he reached first street
of negro shanties he sold Aunt James s
Cook Book to the colored washer
women with the same pleasure he
would have felt In selling 1t to the
leader of tho towns smart set sale
was a sale. wherever made, but he pre-
ferred to SEQ first upon his sale sheet
the names of some Of the well-known
women 1t helped in selling to the
others.
Tho street Benny reached was a
good ono. the best in Westcote II
was 70 highly credentialed that it
was known as "Aristocrats Row,
this being a term Of satirical import
given the street by those who had
not the good fortune to be invited to
functions like that which had this at
ternoon filled the parlor of Mrs. VIII
1oughby Jackson.
With his sample copy Of Aunt
James Cook Book" under his arm. n
cigarette in the corner of his mouth
and the fire of battle in his eye, Benny
entered the first yard and mounted the
steps to the front door. He placed his
thumb against the bell button and held
1t there He could hear the bell jangle
inside the house and he kept II jang-
ling Suddenly the door opened and a
maid stood looking at him. Sho looked
but for one instant. She saw the book
under Beuny's arm.
I'VE don't want no books'" she said
and the banging door cut the words 10
two as she shut It in Benny's face
Benny looked AT tho door n moment
and descended the steps. House num-
her one defeat. He went to house
number two.
In approaching house Benny's
method never varied. He walked
iauntily into tho yard. iauntily mount
ed tho steps to the door. leaned the end
OF his thumb against tho bell buttor
and waited developments. II was sim
pie but effective II he continued &c
push the button long enough and ther,
was any man. woman or. child in the
house someone came to the door.
The second house was larger thar
tho first and more impressive, Th'
door was of mahogany, beautifully
polished and II opened so suddenly
that Benny almost fell inside. A maiC
in apron and cap govc him one glance
we don't buy nothing from agents,
she said angrily and slammed the
beautiful mahogany door in Benny
face. Benny flicked the ash from his
cigarette. tilted his hat to one side
and walked down the steps. He wal
not perturbed at all. He entered th'
next yard and jauntily mounted th'
stops to tho front door. He lighted
fresh cigarette before he pushed th'
bcu button. and dropped his stub init
the pot OF fan palm that stood o'