Part 49 (1/2)

”Nothing, it's a great idea. I'm going to advertise traction engines among the farmers, and offer a prize of two eggs to the farmer who makes it hoe a row of potatoes quickest.”

”You are carrying the idea to a point of absurdity,” I said. ”What's the matter with my idea, anyhow?”

”Ask Charlie Martin; I guess he can help you,” he answered. ”And say, Dawson, I don't want to hurt your feelings; but, if I were you, I would not try any more brilliant stunts without talking them over with Charlie or some one else first. The bulk of your ideas are fine, you know, but occasionally you slip a cog.”

I hung up the receiver, then turned to Charlie and said: ”I thought I had a pretty good idea.”

”You had a good idea,” he said, ”but worked it out incorrectly. It is such a bald attempt to sell bread mixers. You don't give any reason why they should buy bread mixers. The only reason you ask them to buy the mixers is to enter the contest. Now, the better-cla.s.s women won't do it, and the poorer people have not money to buy mixers.”

”I never thought of that,” I said.

”Then, again,” said Charlie, ”you have, or had, quite a good customer for hardware in the Empire Bread Company. I wonder what they will think of you urging people to stop trading with them?”

”Good heavens!” I gasped. ”I never thought of that, either.”

”Evidently not,” said Charlie.

”I am going right down to see them,” I said, and I seized my hat and, before he could say another word, I was on my way to see Mr. Burgess of the Empire Bread Company.

When I arrived at Mr. Burgess' office I heard him and Stigler (Stigler above all people) laughing. The boy told Burgess I was there, and I was asked to go right in, which, like a fool, I did.

”How-de, Black?” said Stigler. ”Have yer just dropped around to see if Mr. Burgess will enter a loaf of bread in yer bread-mixing contest?”

I ignored him and turned to Burgess and said: ”I didn't know you were engaged--I will wait until you are through.”

”Don't bother, Black,” said Stigler, ”I am going now,” then, turning to Burgess, he added: ”All right, Mr. Burgess, I'll see that yer have them things this afternoon.”

My heart sank when I heard those words, for the Empire Bread Company was a good steady customer of mine--one of the best, in fact. Burgess used to trade with Stigler, but they got at cross purposes over something and the business had come to me, and had been with me for over six months.

”Say, Mr. Burgess,” I began, as soon as Stigler had left the room, ”I'm awfully sorry for that ad.”

”Don't you be sorry, Black,” he said, ”it will probably be good business for you. In fact, I think we will have to enter a loaf of bread in that contest ourselves. It might be good advertising for the Empire Bread Company to win the thirty-cent cheese dish, or whatever it is, that you are giving for making the best loaf of bread.”

”I don't know how I ever did such a foolish thing,” I said; ”but I want you to know that I shall advertise to-night that the contest is abandoned on account of inability to get together the committee of judges.”

”Hm!” said Burgess. ”I can just imagine the people saying, 'I guess the Empire people got after him. That is why he is squealing.' Still, you know your own business best. And now please excuse me, for I am very busy.”

”For heaven's sake tell me what I ought to do, Mr. Burgess! If I hadn't been so bull-headed I never would have got into this mess.”

”And,” smiled Burgess, ”you think it is bad business to risk losing ours?”

”Why--partly--I certainly didn't want to hurt your business,” I said.

”Believe me, Black, a thing like that won't hurt our business; but it's good to change at times, so we have switched over to Stigler for a little while. Some day, perhaps, we will give you a chance at some more of our business; and now you really will have to excuse me.”

I found myself walking back to the store feeling very disconsolate, indeed. I decided that, at any rate, I would not risk any more advertising on that wretched bread-making contest, until I saw what was going to happen. Charlie met me near the post office. ”I guess we have lost the Empire account, haven't we?” he asked.

I groaned.