Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-09-26
He Proved He
Had Nerve
b. IUsTIN WENTwoop


W 'hE AOuDics MI BtkblHot At-
4 peated SnodgrasG the head of
the firm, thOughtfutly. swell, since
you ask me, the reason why am dis
charging you is that you don't possess
the qualifications for a salesman" He
broke off as Jones, the star salesman.
entered his office. "weIiT" he de
manded in suppressed excitement.
Couldn't land him. He's still got
that crouch against ouS firm on ac-
,ount Of that misunderstanding. Old
Greyson wanted ten thousand dol
lars worth Of stuff, and he's going to
place his order with the Phoenix peo-
ole"
"Godw groaned Snodgrass. THAT
order would Just about have set us
up, too" He turned to Higgins crisp
". Sorry you can't stay with us,
Higgins" he said. Hope you'll have
luck with your next place. Take my
advice and be more Independent"
Higgins, discharged, went sadly out.
He was only a boy. He had seen
brilliant future as a salesman with
the Snodgrass peOple-and then there
was certain girl. e. The trou-
BILE was, he lacked the assurance of
the other statesmen, who came in, flung
their hats on SnOdgrass' desk, and
made themselves at home In the place.
He lacked nerve. All the people he
went to see treated him dlsdalnfully.
Suddenly a thought came to him.
Why shouldn't he see old Greyson and
try to secure that order2 If he did
that his future was made. And he
knew that he had all the qualifications
OF a successful salesman buried away
In him. And there was Etlie.
Suddenly he found himself on his way
to the hotel where Greyson was put
ting up on his visit to the city
Mr.. Greyson would be down in a mo
ment Higgins waited in trepidation.
At last the old man appeared, eyeing
him susplciously. "Welli Are you a
representative of the Phoenix peoplei
| telephoned them couldn't see their
man till"
mo. I'm from Snodgrass-"
Don't want to hear you. l turned
one of your men down cold this morn
ing. Mr.. Snodgrass treated me with
gross dlscourtesy over A."
you're right. Mr.. Greyson. He
Isn't long on manners, but he puts
out good stuff"
Young man, yoH go baclv and tell
him it's no use sending me any more
of his men. When turned down that
fellow this morning L"
Cant go back" said Higgins I'M
happily. Hes fired me-"
Fired your Darn him, what did
he want TO do that forr' Greyson de-
manded.
"Said I hadn't enough nerve or In
dependence or something, so l wanted
to show him l had by tackIing you.
Besides, | honestly do want to sue
ceed. and know I've got the max
lngs of a successful salesman"
"You have, you've got the person
allty. But that's neither here nor
there. Mr.. Snodgrass treated me with
gross"
ayes. but can't you let bygones be
bygones2' asked Higgins. Suppose he
did, it's the quality of the goods that
counts. Now our goods beat those
that any other firm in the country can
put out at the price, and"
"Young man. you go back to snod-
grass and tell him, with my compll-
ments, that he's bigger fool than ]
thought him."
T certainly will deliver that mes
sage" said Higgins recklessly.
Because you have got nerve. But
as for that order, my answers no."
snow see here"
Il tell you mol" shouted old Grey
son. when l say no | mean no.
That order goes to the Phoenix com
pany. Get out of here and don't pes
ter mel I've never changed my mind
yet, and my answers no."
Snodgrass found Higgins seated in
his stenographers chair, with his feet
cooked up on his own chair. He
stared at this apparition. Higgins was
also smoking perfecto out of Snod-
grass box. Snodgrass began to boil.
"Tve told the cashier you're start
ing me in at hundred plus commits
slon," said Higgins.
"Have you gone madr' yelled. snod-
grass.
mo, Mr.. Snodgrass. I've been TO
see Mr.. Greyson and he told me to tell
you you're a bigger fool than he thought
you, dlscharging me, because I've got
all the nerve that's necessary. Any
way. I've landed that orderi"