Evening star., 1922-11-19
BY SEWELL FORD.

on Barry Platt. He simply stepped
into it, Barry did. 1t couldn't have
been later than 10 o'clock the morn
ing after the first ads appeared that
Barry called up on the phone.
II say. Trilby May" he began. "rll
have to take back something told
You the other night"
Your advice that I shouldn't risk
my money in any kind Of business
enterprise?" asks.
mo, that still goes" says he. But
believe 1 added that pulling some-
thing new in this town wasn't pos
sible.''
almost your very words, old dear"
says ]. And you're ready to cat 'em
so soon?'
Il must" says he, "for only this
morning I ran across proposition
that's as fresh as paint Perhaps
you've seen the ad, too-a concern
that sends out men to do odd jobs.
The Handy Andy Shop. it's called"
Yes, noticed the ad," says L.
''You'll admit that's a novel idea, will
you"
Absolutely" says he. Rather
clever. eh?'
Think 1t will be go?" went on
Ought to be a knockout" says
Barry.
And I suppose you failed to notice
the phone number given?" says I.
well. If you have the paper handy
take another look"
Which was where this little gasp
came over the wire. "Why!" says he.
''That's-that's your number, Trilby
May"
odd. isn't it?" says I. But, then,
you see, I'm the concern"
Your says he. Say, where did
you dig UP this
"Sorry, old bean," says I, but I'm
too busy to give you the story of my
life. I've got a whole basement full
of Handy Andys climbing into their
new uniforms and four different par
ties are trying to get me on this wire.
Drop around next month at 2 o'clock.
and If I'm still a going concern I'll
let you know how it works out.
For 1 find that starting a new busi-
ness isn't anywhere near as simple
as 1t might be. You don't merely
wind the thing up and then sit back
and watch 1t run. No. You've got
to coax 1t along. stay with it. sit up
nights with it, or else the blamed
thing will curl UP and quit on you.
< & y y
TRUE, did get away to flying
J. start That two-line reading no
tice of mine, printed in five morning
newspapers at the bottom of news
7 don't
know how many thousands saw 1t, or
what per cent Of those who did run
across it, as they were following up
the latest murder mystery from page
to page 9, stopped to think OF some
odd job around the apartment or
house that needed attending to. But
] do know that before the forenoon
was half over I'd had dozen calls.
And here / was with force OF
eighteen men standing around in an
unfurrished. rubblsh-littered basement,
with no organization, no equipment
and only vague scheme i'll my head
Ill say they we're a scrubby-looking
lot when they first showed up. too.
They were all sizes, all ages and all
nationalities. Most of 'em had been
recruited from park benches and
cheap lodging houses, and they looked
it. The faithful Andy Mel!ish, who
had made good his word to round
them I'D, seemed rather proud of 'em.
however.
well, lady," says he. waving
grubby hand around, Il done as 1 said
I would, didn't I? Here they are"
Good work, Andy" says r "And
thing about doing odd jobs" II
"'Course," says he. II didn't have
no time to try 'em out, but II they're
all as good as they let on to be we're
in luck There amt ono but what's
expert In some line or other, accord
in to his say-so."
"Splendid" says ]. Then our first
move will be to sift out and grade all
this talent. Let's begin with Car
penters. Listen. men. All you who
have worked at that trade line up
here on the left"
And half a dozen ranged themselves
by the door.
NOW the painters and glaciers"
says I.
Five answered this call.
plumbers and tinsmiths," I de-
manded.
That brought out three.
Take their names. Millish," says I,
"and check of their specialties. Then
you can fit them to overalls, jumpers
and caps from that pile there"
It's surprising, too. how much DIFF
ference a blue denim uniform will
make in man. Inside of ten minutes
this motley bunch of trappy-looking
individuals had been changed into a
squad that seemed ready and capable
of tackling anything. You'd would
almost think that they felt it them
selves. The slouchiest of them seemed
to brace up. to square their shoul-
ders and hold their chins up.
Now that's better" says I. by
tomorrow you'll have gilt-lettered
bands to 60 on those caps"
Say, lady" speaks up one man,
'.what you gonna tag US with?"
Nothing that you'll be ashamed
to wear" says I. THE Handy Andy
Shop. That's all. And any of you
who's too proud to have that on his
cap had better quit right now. No
designations? Then we'll go on. I
don't know how you register at
hotels, or what name you sign to
your checks. You may be Percys or
Harolds OF plain Henrys or Johns.
But during working hours you'll all
be Andys. Understand? The people
you do work for will call you Andy.