The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-05

When Barry Rourke landed his Job in the big retail jewelry house of Anian and Rosel, he was eighteen years old. He got the position through his pastor; who had also, of fered to place him in a bookstore or O In a brokerage house. Barry picked out the jewelry firm.
 He did 1t because he loved jewelry. He loved it for itself not for it's cash value. And the best part of three years passed before he had a chance to handle it. Then, promoted by degrees from shipping room and the like, he went on the floor
 So well and so enthusiastically did he do his work behind the counter, and so ardently did he study every available branch of the business in spare hours that, five years later, he was still a counter man; with a few intervening raises of pay, Of course, but with the same general type of job he had held at twenty-one; and with all prospects of staying more or less where he was.
 This was rather a pity because, by this time there was a girl. The sort of girl one marries. But Barry's was not the sort of salary one marries on.
 It was two months before Barry's twenty seventh birthday that a new customer strolled into the famed es- tablishment of Anian and Rosel, one bright morning. He looked IS bright and benign and lustrous as the morn- ing itself, did this customer.
 He wanted a little going-home keepsake. he said; to take back to his wife in Denver, as a memento of his trip to New York. He singled out Barry Rourke to wait on him.
 l,o1 1nc a as it was patently delightful to the other man. From counter to coun- ter, from tray to tray the two drifted; urged on by the customer S child like interest in each new ornament that his smiling bright eyes chanced to light on.
 At his behest. Barry took forth no less than four successive trays of rings and three of watches and three more of brooches and the like. At all of them the man gazed in thrilled appreciation. He priced anything which chanced to appeal to him as of special desirability. And Barry RCurke sought to keep his own show of courtesy from becoming dulled.
 At the end of an endless half-hour he rewarded Barry Rourke's patience ,,by purchasing a jade brooch, girt with tiny pearls and set in old-fash- toned gold. The thing cost but $125 He paid in cash, and he said he would take his purchase with him, as his train was leaving in less than an hour.
 Before he went away, he smiled in fatherly fashion on the bored clerk.
 Son." he said. you've been mighty patient and friendly with me, and appreciate it. Oh, I know you had me labeled as a shopper; and now you're changing that label to 'piker' Yes. you are, too! I know. But show this card of mine to your credit man, and ask him if folks out Denver way look on Calvin Q. Mansur as 8 pker."
 From an elaborate gold. case ht fished a severe little visiting card and laid it on the counter.
 Here's the answer" he chuckled 'I've got one expensive vice. An6 that vice is the buying of terrible costly gewgaws for woman. only just one woman, mind you. The woman happens to be my boss. Wher we were married, it was she whC promised to obey. But for fifteer years I've been doing the obeying. Kind of like to; except when Il comes to buying doodads for her Then she gives me blue blazes 1T spend more'n such and such a sum, { year, on jewelry for her. And shes 2 got me to promise not to-
 q see.' said Barry. politely.
 But here's what I'm leading uI to. with all this windy gab: The year ends in just one month. Ina means I can start fresh on neX' years appropriation. I'm planning tC come back to New Yorl, in couple of months. She'll be with me, tha time.
 And this is the store we're cCmins to. first of all. And you're the clerk who's going to wait on us. Get that I'm planning to sink good s1ce of next years jewelry allowance right here. That's why I've beer staring at such a lot of things to- day, And the things we buy are go ing on the sales average of the lac who has been so patient and decent with a man he thought was piker Give me your card, will you?'
 When his genially verbose cus' toner was gone, Barry Rourke tooi the first. leisure minute to hunt UT the firms credit man. To him Barry told the story and showed the Den verite's card. Both things he die with some hesitation; fearing ht might have run across an obscure blow-hard and that the promise oi big purchases might be a mere brag' garts myth.
 But the credit man convinced him after single glance at the card Barry was treated to a brief, but glowing sketch of Calvin Q. Man 'N surs fame as a silver king and op orator; and of his' immense impor tance throughout Colorado. Then still bearing the card, the Nedit mar battered off to the presidents pri' vate office. Presently, an office boy informed Barry:
 'Mr. RGsel wants you"
 Into the presidents Spartan bare inner office went Barry; his knee: trembling just a very little. Rourkt had played football in high school He still kept up his boxing and hi: wrestling. at the Y. M. c. A. gym. on such nights as the girl was not a home or on his way uptown from tht store. MT. Rosel. was seventy year! old, and fragile. One smash from Rourke's fist would have annihi- lated him. Yet Barry quaked, every time he chanced to be summoned into the presence of this overlord who held the reins of his financial life ol death.
 Thrice, Rosel had sent for him tc tell him his salary was to be raised Once Rosel had sent for him tC criticize his manner in dealing witt customer A call to the office might, mean promotion or it nigh mean discharge; or 1t might mear anything between. Small wonder with his hoped for marriage at stake that Rourke's knees were not a: firm as in fast boxing match!
 But the old man, today, merely twiddIed Calvin Q. Mansur's card be nr,1