The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-01-22

they wanted it, though"
Edward glanced around. Edith had
slipped out into the shop.
Mariner" he said, "for just five
minutes, let's talk plainly. If you're
advocating this trip to the coast as a
selling program, you're talking nom
sense. There's more buying power up
Sheridan road from here to Milwau-
kee than there is along your whole
route between Kansas and California.
We haven't begun to cover Cook coun-
ty. BY the time we have covered 1t,
we'll know definitely whether we've
got anything or not. We've both been
Sinking. You've done nothing for
weeks; nor either, SO far as the vital
need Of this business is concerned,
until yesterday.
Yesterday / was out in the street
myself. / didn't sell much, but it was
the most instructive day I've ever
lived through. knew now that our
thing can be sold, and I know can
sell it. What's more, can make the
statesmen sell it. My proposal is that
we give up our grand ideas for the
present and go to work. I mean to.
Pm putting it up to you"
s'Well, I won't have it," Mariner
growled. II can't stand this place, nor
this-peanut bust ness! I've had about
all can stand of you, Patterson, If
it's plain speaking you want. I've got
on to big thing. I've put my hearts
blood into it. I've been working over
1t twenty hours day, and when try
to tell you about it, you won't even
listen.
"And then you tell me I've been
Sinking; propose to make peddler
out of me That's the way people are,
here in this part Of the country. Out
where my wife is visiting they are
different. She's met some people out
there with money who don't think in
terms of nickels. By the time I've
driven my car with my new yaporizer
on it out there, across the plains and
the mountains and the desert in win
ter, I'llSbe able to show them that I've
got a big thing"
To say to the man, sit was you who
persuaded me to put my savings into
this peanut business, and if you turn
tail now and run like yellow dog, as
you propose, you're self-confessed
fraud"-to say that and lot more
was on Edwards tongue while Mariner
talked.
But when he ceased talking, the i'm
tod 40, hn Sof
there with hanging head, his face
working and his hands clenched, he
was merely pitiable.
Suddenly he looked up. " beg your
pardon, Patterson. don't mean what
I'VE been saying. Between this new
| invention of mine and my-and my
wife, I'm beside myself.
Patterson, don't know what she's
| doing out there. / don't know what
she may do. I'm not proper husband
for her; I'm not what she deserves.
| But I'VE got to hang on. I've got to
go out there. Cd! I ought to be
| there nowr"
Edwards gaze fixed itself out the
window. You couldn't look at man
while he was saying things like that.
Y There was another silence.
IT don't mean that, either" Mariner
went ON again. 81 can't seem to
talk at all this morning without rum
ming wild. OF course there's nothing
/ serious. don't want you to think
| that for minute. But about this
| choke. I think there's real chance
to open up some new territory. I'll do
| the very best by it that can. At the
very least, / can make it pay my way"
"How much" Edward asked him
| thoughtfully, show much money would
| you need?"
ITO start with? oh, not very much"
| "I don't mean that" Edward told
him. IT mean for the whole trip
! Mariner smiled wryly. "To be rid of
me-" he commented, "for good and all"
'I've got to know" Edward said.
"Yes, of course" Mariner acquiesced
"You're right from your point Of view.
Five hundred dollars? I'll earn that
! in commissions between here and Kan
sas City. But thatll be enough
guess"
"Well, if you earn more than that,
I'll be glad to pay it-after the orders
come in and the bills are paid. won't
honor any drafts, though" he added
bluntly, ION prospects or promises"
Mariner nodded. "That's under
STOOD" he said. "But about that
check. Can I have it now? If I
can, I'll start tomorrow"
81 can let you have it." Edward
said, just about" He wrote 1t on
the spot and Mariner put 1t in his
pocket. His manner had changed. His
face seemed actually to have filled out
a little.
You're good sport, Patterson" he
said, "and / believe you're going to
make a go Of this. I don't believe
you'll regret having gone into it. I'm
off now. This is going to be lively
day."
For a while after the door had closed
behind him, Edward sat thoughtfully
at his desk. That check had pretty
well cleaned him out. Yet, his feeling
was that Mariners departure for good