The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-10
EOening Story
Dress Goods a la King.
BY r. RAY BAKER.

this Afternoon; but Cecil Sargent had
the temerity to approach her, and not
on a matter of business connected
with Chalmers & Chalmers, wholesale
dealers in dress goods. 1t was a more
personal subject that he had to
broach-a much more personal sub
ject.
He stopped at her desk and fidgeted
for a. few seconds. shifting his weight
from one foot to another. Agnes ap-
peared unusually beautiful this morn
ing; in fact, Cecil could find only one
word to describe her, and that was
''gorge of course that wasn't
the right word.
Cecils hesitation was not occasioned
by the fact that the young woman was
his boss. by reason of her holding the
position as sales manager, while he
was but a salesman. He felt trepida-
ton because he knew he was not in
her good graces; she had showed it
all too plainly on more than one oc-
casion of late. But he just had to
speak once more concerning the sub
ject that made his world go round.
Agnes" he said, in a voice that al
most faltered, isn't it about time you
Eset the date for our wedding?"
She looked up from the letter she
was reading and smiled slightly,
rather pityingly. it seemed.
We'll, hardly she returned 81
don't remember that 1 have definitely
accepted your offer of marriage as
ago, I'll admit, but you've been such
a wretched business failure lately that
l m on the point of giving it up. You
don't imagine want to marry a fail
ure, do you? Do you realize you
haven't sold a hundred dollars worth
of goods in a month";"
Cecil realized it all too we'll. But
what was he to do? He was a good
salesman. and he knew it; but he had
been so worried lately over Agnes that
he couldn't keep his mind on his
work Every time he failed to make a
sale he sank that much lower in her
estimation, and every time he dropped
a notch in that respect he lost just so
much of his business ability 1t was
an endless chain, with nothing but
dlsaster pulling on the end of it.
know it" he confessed in an
swer to her indictment, but if you
would only give me some definite en-
enlargement, perhaps I'd come back
as a salesman. You've got me worried,
Agnes"
She tapped her lips with the eraser
end of a pencil and studied him in
tently. He was a nice looking Young
man, she realized that and he was
bright and clever, too. Still, those
Things counted for naught unless they
brought results. Agnes had no inten-
ton of supporting a husband; when
she became tied in a nuptial knot, she
expected to retire from business and
devote herself to housekeeping AS she
looked at Cecil in that scrutinizins
manner she realized that he was be-
coming careless in regard to his ap-
pearance.
Don't you think" she suggested,
that shoe shine would help to sell
goods? And do you know that your
tie is crooked and the pointed end or
your tie-pin is sticking out like a
sword. And you have dinner en-
gagement with Adelaide Anderson
this evening; don't forget that
she paused as he stood there like
a condemined crimina1.-=7--
Tell you what I'll do" she contin-
ued,g'-i you sell Miss ANDERSON a good
bin of goods I'll set the datei How is
that for something definite %
Cecil gulped.
went away, feeling more discouraged
than ever.
Sell a good bill of goods to Adelaide
ANDERSON, Ell? That would be a her
culean task. Adelaide represented
Smith & Brown, the biggest dress
goods buyers in the state Every time
she came to town the statesmen made
wild scramble to see her; but for
three years Chalmers & Chalmers had
not sold her for cent, aItho one of
their representative always took her
out to dinner. James Brothers had
been the lucky ones, and Cecil knew
the reason. They employed "he
.vamp' for a salesman, a fashion-pIate
u d oQQGt one f1GnGV WalI6fS, VINO
charmed Adelaide-somewhat of q
''vamp' herself-into buying goods.
Women in business certainly We're
making a mess of things Agnes was
too practical and Adelaide too unprac-
teal. The former demanded too close
adherence to business principles and
the latter had no regard for them. The
man who could ecaptivate Adelaide
with his clothes was the one who land
ed the order, and Cecil certainly was
No I'D c, Al,,k l. ~
not go to extremes. Henry Waters
stunned her with his clothes and made
her buy while she was unconscious
7. Thus Cecil soiifoquized as he made
his way to the street. In a very un-
pleasant dream he walked along, until
suddenly a flash of red from a window
caught his notice. 1t was an ex-
tremeiy loud tie containing big blue
checks.
Cecil had an idea, and it made him
gasp. Here was something that had
stunning possibilities. He considered
a moment, then went in and pur-
chased the tie. He had suddenly de-
cided to make a strenuous attempt to
order to be happy.
At the family hotel where he lived
he struggled with the red and blue tie
struggled long and hard. and it
was not until half past 5 o'clock that
he acclaimed himself the victor, stand
ing before the mirror and blinking his
eyes at the blaze below his neck.
Then suddenly he discovered that
his trousers needed pressing, and he
called a boy who took them away.
The only other pair he possessed were
close to shabbiness, so he remained in
his room and waited.
The tailor was slow, and when the
hour of six arrived Cecil was Tuning
with impatience. He called the tailor
and was assured the trousers would
be right up. The dinner engagement
was for seven
At $50 he~calIed again.
They'll ne right up" the tailor
assured. They're ready now and the
boy is waiting for Mr. Carson's trous-
ers. Mr.. Carson's in a hurry. too"
Confound Mr.. Carson, So he was
delaying the game. He was a young