The Press., 1922-10-19
Dress Goods a la
 King
By R. RAY BAKER


 Chambers S Chalmers, wholesale deal CTS ln dress goods. It was more personal subject that he had to brOach "a much more personal subject.
 He stopped at her desk and tidgeted for few seconds, shifting his weight from one foot to another. Agnes ap- peared unusually beautiful this mora ing; in fact. Cecil could find only one word to describe her, and that was "gOrgeous"-and of course that wasn't the right word.
 Cecil'S 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 salesman. He felt trepl. datlOn because he knew he was not in her good graces; she had showed 1t all too plainly on more than one OG caslOn of late. But he just had to speak once more concerning the sub. ject that made his world go round. 1 Agnes" he said, In a voice that ale most faltered, isn't it about time you set the date for. our wedding? i She looked up from the letter she was reading and smiled slightly, rath- per pityfngly, 1t seemed.
 l Well, hardly" she returned. "I don't remember that 1 have definitely accepted your offer of marriage as yet. I was considering 1t some time ago, I'll admit, but you've been such a wretched business failure lately that I'm on the point of giving it up. You don't imagine want to marry fail. 6n U0n9 haven't sold a hundred dollars worth , of goods in a month";"
 Cecil realized 1t all too well: But l 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 sale he sank that much lower In her esti- 1 nation, and every time he dropped a notch in that respect he lost just so much of his business ability. It was an endless chain, with nothing but dIB7 aster pulling on the end of it.
 "I know it," he confessed in an- swer to her indictment "but If you would only give me some definite en- COuragement, perhaps I'd come back as a salesman. You've got me worried, Agnes"
 1 She tapped her lips with the eraser end of a pencil and studied him in- tently. He was nice looking young man, she realized that and he wRs ! bright and clever, too. Still, those things counted for naught unless they brought results. Agnes had no intan tiOn of supporting 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 scrutiniz" ing manner she realized that he was becoming careless in regard to his ap- pearance.
 Don't you think" she suggested, that a shoe shine would help to sell goods? And do you know that your tie is crooked and the pointed end of your tie-pin Is sticking out like a sword. And you have a dinner ep- gagement with Adelaide Anderson tKhs evening; don't forget that"
 Tell you what I'll dO," she contin- ued, If you sell Miss AmbersOn a good bill of goods I'll set the date! How
 
 Cecil gulped.
 :Oh, all right, f1ne!" he replied, add went away, feeling jmOre discouraged then ever.
 Sell a good bill of goods to Ade- laide Anderson, eh? That would be a herculean task. Adelaide represent | ed Smith $ Brown, the biggest dress ! goods buyers in the state. Every time | she came to town the salesmen made a | wild scramble to see her; but for three | years Chalmers x Chalmers had not | sold her for a cent, although one of | their representatives always took her | out to dinner. James Brothers had l been the lucky ones, and Cecil knew | the reason. They employed a be | vamp for a salesman, a fashion plate | of a dude, one Henry Walters, who ! charmed Adelaide-sO somewhat of a "vamp' herself-intO buying goods.
 Women in business certainly were | making a mess of things. Agnes was | too practical and Adelaide too unprac. l ticaI. The former demanded too close l adherence to business principles and | the latter had no regard for them. Tho | man who could captivate Adelaide with | his clothes was the one who landed 1 the order, and Cecil certainly was not | a good dresser; that Is, he could not | go to extremes. Henry Walters stunned her with his clothes and made her buy while she was unconsci us.
 Thus Cecil solilOQuized as he made his way to the street. In q very un- pleasant dream he walked along, until suddenly flash of red from a window caught his notice. It was an extreme ly loud tie containing big blue checks.
 Cecil had an idea. and 1t made h.m gasp. Here was something that had stunning possibilities. He considered a moment, then went in and purcha Sed the tie. He had suddenly decided tc make a strenuous attempt to get Ade- laide's order. He had to in order tC be happy, |
 At the family hotel where he lived he struggled with the red-and-hme tic struggled long and hard, and it vas not until half past five o'clock t!!at he acclaimed himself thn Ni,.t.r stand ing before the miro: nhd blt.::. 4. l.ls eyes at the red blaze below ms necR,
 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 ShabbtnesS, so he remained in his room and waited.
 The tailor was slow, and when the hour of six arrived Cecil was fuming with impatience. He called the tailor and was assured the trousers would be right up. The dinner engagement was for seven.
 At 6:30 he called again.
 They'll be right up," the tailor as sured. They're ready now and the boy is just waiting for Mr. Carson's trousers. Mr. Carson's in hurry,