New Britain herald., 1929-10-21
Chapter 11 IN RI SINI.SS

IN Bl SlN tISN
 The first few weeks proved that Ray had predicted rightly when he had told Barbara that he would be useless in business. He was. And 1t was not because he did not try either. He tried with what he him. self expressed as q dog-gone deter mination, but he could not put it across.
 The speciality Of Henry Wanda veer I.andon's office was selling bonds and, although Mir. Landon's enterprisiug office manager exert ed himself to he utmost to turn Ray into a first-cIass bond sales man. instructing him in all the in- tricate details Of the business, his failure was q foroSone conclusion.
 Ray repaid his tuition by not sell ing a single bond during the two months they tried him out at it.
 It simply was not in him. Every time he approached a prospective client he became weak at the knees and immediately developed an in feriority complex.
 What do you want, young fcl- low" Mr. Jones of Jones X Biggs, insurance agents would growl out as he sat over his after luncheon cigar, wondering why he had eaten griIlod lobster when it invariably disagreed with him.
 
 Ray would begin.
 No, you couldn't Get out of here,'
 Ray would retreat instinCtively. Personally he desired nothing bet ter than to get out; in fact he was more anxious to do so than Mr. Jones was to have him go. But the humiliating sense that this would mean yet another failure, drove him to say:
 Its an excellent opportunity, sir. As safe ."
 Bah, They're all safe-accord ing to their agents. If you haven't anything more original than that to say, young fellow. don't say it."
 Ray would swallow twice while he miserably searched his brain for another sure-fire salesman crack in which he had been in structed.
 ''It's easy money. an absolute cer- tainty. An apartment house in Brooklyn gives eight per cent inter est.
 "I tell you if it were a first class prison, all modern improvements you wouldn't get my money! Now get out :"
 By this time Ray would have be- gun to be irrtated.
 'I assure you that personally don't want to touch your money" drawing himself up to his full height. "I would never have called on you in the first place if I hadn't found your name on my list ."
 Don't think you can high-hat me, young man." Mir. Jcnes would shout back. Its been tried before and I tell you plain that it doesn't work" And with that he would press the bell and say to the office boy. "Get rid of this young fellow and do it quick"
 By the end of the day Ray would be so weary, footsorc and depressed that, as often as not, he would mere ly put his head around the door and say, You don't want to buy any %p 3r good afternoon"
 In the middle of the third month they gave him desk job in the office.
 He described himself as sort ot elaborate office boy At first h. was given q book 10 keep in lts spare time, which was consider able, but, after the first monthly audit, it disappeared 1uysteriousIv and he never saw it again.
 He was of course. ever conscious of the fact that he would haze been fired long ago had he nos been q member of the august and impor- tant family of Landons
 This knowledge did not improve Rays temper. He knew that ha would never make any Ecadway m business and, all the t!r.c. his dream of eventually making a nama 1 for himself in the musical world was recedIng, Besides he chafcd continually nj ! having to accept so much from Barbara. Then, too she was con tinually urging him 10 interrupt hIs work to accompany her on house parties
 Petty Hanson 'phoncI re b. day she would greet him. "Sho wants us to join a cro5G down it | their place On Long Isltnd for Q 1 few days"
 You know I cant go I've got to be at the office"
 "Oh, com" on, Ray. I'll fiy it with . Uncle Henry. It won't iaahe a,n difference to him."
 You're right there" he 1,om3 retort without trying 10 conceal I5~ rancor. 'It wouldn't make any dll- ference to him If took d parn.a- nent racation."
 Don't be mean, Ray. You vc been so bad tempered lately. don't know whats come over you. I bate going to these parties constantly without you. People will think that there is some monkey business up."
 Then I'm afraid you'll have 10 confine your parties to weck-ends." he would retort. T know I'm les use to your uncle than his vomly- est office boy but, so long as :p,- cept his $35 week I'm goin- 10 sit right there in his office, Besides, you have a better time without me, I'm awfully dumb on that sort of party. You know I