The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-12-13
Brannigan's
Coup
By MORRIS SCHULTZ
seeseeesess 4
"a. 1929. Westsrn Newnpaper union.l

- sistant managers chair, opposite
the managers, Parkin. The assistant
managers job was vacant. II was
$500 position, for the Elmer Manu-
featuring company was big ops
Brannigan was not the assistant man
ager. he was a twenty-dollar clerk.
Moreover he was under two weeks no
tice to quit, for general inefficiency.
But he liked sitting in the assistant
managers chair when everybody was
out at lunch. 1t made him feel I'M
portant. And nobody would be in for
half an hour.
Discharged, hey7 Just because he
was too big for clerks jobl Bran
nigan would show somebody some day.
Now II only he could have got the job
vacated by the assistant managerl
But 4 fellow never got a chance
johnson had been practically nred for
failing to pull of that half-million
dollar order with old Snaith. Snaith
had suddenly turned him down when
1t was all but settled. Snaith was
queer; johnson had offended him in
some way, and the firm had to have
the order to retrench, perhaps 20 to
the wall.
"Say, young fellow. are you all that
represents this corporationT
Brannigan took his feet OF Par
kin's chair and looked at the speaker.
a bald, elderly, hook-nosed old gentle
man Of sixty-odd.
"Well, guess I'm good enough. ain't
IT he inquired resentfully.
mot good enough for me. Say, you
take a message for that assistant man.
ager of yours. what's his name-John-
SOM Say Mr.. Snaith was back to talk
over that little matter. and he's finally
turned him down because"
Brannigan sprang to his feet livid
with Indignation. Look here, Mr..
Snaith, you can't talk that way to this
firmP' he cried. You turned down
that order, and"
"Who the devil are your" shouted
Snaith, turning purple in the face.
My name is Brannigan, and I'm
assistant manager of this corporation"
Brannigan ragged like a bull In a
china shop. He was resolved to send
something smashing. "Mr. johnson
had to leave for offering you that con
tract at 10 per cent below our regu-
lar rates. You can't have 1t, and it's
no use coming back here"
Snaith was spluttering and gasping
as Brannigan told him off. Suddenly
he grew normal.
PLEASED to meet you, Mr.. Branni-
gan," he said. "Now suppose we cut
out the parleying and gel together in
a business-like way. l don't mind ad-
mitting to you that I made mistake
in turning down Mr.. Johnson's pro
posal. l can't get such rates any,
where else. even II that 10 per cent
IL added. You certainly have the
goods, Mr.. Brannigan.'
"Sit down, Mr.. Snaith," said Bran
nigan blandly, indicating Parkin's
chair. "Well. now"
"At the same time, you understand.
I'm not begging for that order" said
Snaith, sitting down and tanning him
self with his hat. "I'm not the man to
be trampled on" He was trying to
save his face, trying to avoid crawling.
Brannigan saw all that. A wild hope
Of landing this big fish came into his
heart. Nobody had known how to
handle Snaith. that was the trouble.
Snaith was bully, and was now show
Ing the diverse side of the medal, the
cowardly one.
"The figure you quoted me was
$4S6,717." said Snaith, producing a
memorandum book. snow you say
that 10 per cent. why. that's
over $53O,OOO."
"Tell you what we'll do" said Bran
nigan. "Ill close with you for $685.
600. That's absolutely the best offer
we can make you under present circum-
stances, and If the cost of labor goes
up of course II will be considerably
more"
Done /" said Snaith. producing a
contract.
Brannigan looked over his shoulder
and saw Parkin, the manager, enter
ing the ofiice. There was amazement
In Parkin's eyes as he came up.
Snaith leaped to his feet. "Well,
Parkin, your assistant manager, Mr..
Brannigan, and I have agreed to close
at S525, ,OOO," he said.
"Come into the presidents room.
Mr.. Snaith," said Parkin.
When he came back half an hour
later, Brannigan was lolling in the
assistant managers chair.
"We've hooked him." said Parkin
triumphantly. 'Brannigan, how did
you pull It ONT No, never mind telling
me now. Well have plenty Of oppor-
tunities for talking 1t over now that
we're next-door neighbors-"
"Have I got Johnson's placer asked
Brannigan-
you've taken 1t, haven't you," said
Parkin.