The Topeka state journal., 1922-07-07
EDening Story
The Vacuum Man.
BY ROSE MEREDITH.

cleaner paused at the loot OF the steps
and raised his straw hat.
May l." he was beginning, when
Barbara smiled negatively.
"I am sorry, but we do not need a
cleaner" she said pleasantly.
Everybody needs one OF these
that is, every household should have
one" He pulled out a little book and
studied 1t carefully. 1T removes all
the dirt from carpets, stuffed furni-
ture, walls, bedding, curtains, cloth
ing. without leaving a trace OF dust
behind. 1t is sanitary. speedy and
savingi" He paused breathlessly. 1T
Is very warm today" he apologized,
as he drew out an immaculate hand
kerchief.
1T is, and it must be very exhaust
ing to talk to people and persuade
them to buy" said Barbara primly,
for she had been taught not to enter
into conversation with strangers, and
yet he had a very engaging manner
and resembled Alice Westerly so
strongly that she wanted to ask him
il they were related. This was hardly
likely, because Alice belonged to
rich and clannish family and all the
members of the family were affluent
and very prominent.
Barbara was pouring out a glass OF
iemonade-it was a tall, thin glass,
frosty and inviting, with the yellow
rind of lemons and long straw float
ing on top. She brought the glass to
the edge of the porch, 81 am sure
you must be thirsty" she said. "and
it must be hard to sell vacuum clean
ers around Meadowbank."
He drained the glass with q. little
bow as he handed it back. TT is deli
cious, thank you. Perhaps you will
tell me why cannot sell the cleaners
around here"
''why there are no houses wired for
''The dickens!" he calculated. grow
ing very red. ANY one but an idiot
at the game would have known that
before starting out. Who is the local
agent for the nearest power station ?"
MY father. He has tried to inter-
est the people, but they cling to their
oil stoves and heaters and lights.
There is gas in the village"
Thank you: 1 am goiAg to talk to
of the people to petition for electric
service, then I'll come back in 4
month and sell cleaners to them. VIII
you save your order for me?"
with a business-like air he lifted his
canvas package, raised his hat and
strobe down the bricked walk to the
white gate.
1t was pleasant. sitting there on the
porch. looking down the red path be-
tween the sweet-scented box and
watching the mans straight form
stepping briskly down the road to-
ward the village. She hoped her IA
LISE WOuIO 10 business with Ln6
stranger. She rather liked him for
his gentle courtesy, his evident refine
ment, and she may have woven him
into her day drams as she waited for
her friends to come for a cup OF tea
and a bit of girlish chatter.
Alice Westerly came first, and she
was plaintively indignant. 1T thought
would never get away" she COM
planned as she stirred her tea. Moth
er had a letter from her sister this
Tl1nrnin0 fo all
and we talked about the matter until
1 feel that I never want to see an
other vacuum cleaner in the world"
Vacuum cleaner" murmured Bar
'Why-why talk about vacuum clean
ers on a pretty day like this?"
why not talk about them? My
cousin, Rod Marvin. has gone on the
road selling them-not as wholesale
proposition, but just a house-to-house
canvass; he's an agent-some day he
will come to your house." she added
gloomi1y.
IT hope sol"
why? Because he is handsome
and rich" asked Alice bluntIy.
Rich? But thought you said he
was an agent?''
II did. His father is the head of
the whole industry. Like most rich
mems sons, Rod is learning the busi-
ness from the ground up. He can
make 'em, he says, and now they have
put him in the sales department, of
which one day he is to De the head.
Uncle Dick says Rod will make good.
Aunt Lettie says her poor boy must
not be Inundated, and we think Rods
good sport!'
He really is-and I hope he will
succeed" declared Barbara, as she
poured another cup of tea
HE has the most captivating man.
ner-he could charm the birds from
the trees, and he could make any
woman buy cleaner, whether she
wanted it or not!"
He couldn't persuade me to buv
one,. retorted Barbara.
Barby! Did he come here?" Alice
caught her friends little hands and
held them. captive.
About an hour ago." confessed
Barbara, her cheeks hoti
How funny! And you thought he
was real agent and turned him
| away?" giggled Alice.
'I sent him to fAther-he was very
courteous-and-nice.!, I gave him a
glass of iced lemonade-there, that's
ALI" Barbara was furious with her
self for blushing, with Alice for her
inane giggling and above all with
Rodney Marvin, who was beginning at
the bottom by selling vacuum clean
ers. And I hate vacuum cIeaners!''
she burst forth viciousIy.
Voices sounded from the hall and
three people came into the varanda-
Barbara's parents and Mr.. Rodney
Marvin, cool, calm, immaculate.
Thank you, Mrs. Greye," he was
saying, your order shall be the first
one on my book" and he scribbled in
a new notebook while all of them
| looked at him with varied degrees of
interest
Mrs. Greye thought he was a prom
Using young business man. Her hus-
band coveted him as a partner in
his business. Alice Westerly thought
Rodney was very "nervy" to invade
the homes of the well-to-do and make
himself so thoroly one of them while
he concealed his identity
What did Barbara think? She