Adventure Magazine, March 1916 — page 124: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

eet | “ly. 122. ! immured in his private office, but Matt, with the plea of urgency, pushed into it. ‘The gentleman sat in his shirt-sleeves and the draft of an oscillating fan, yet his fat and flaccid front was bedewed with a sweat that seemed to rise up ceaselessly from the well-springs of his being. Matt went at him without waste of introductory words. “My name is Matthew Bailey. I am seeking information. What is the average laundry bundle sent. in here—I mean its charge value to you?” Mr. Shifter mopped his brow and glow- ered at him. “About forty cents,” he said crossly. “Why?” “T’ve a plan to increase your business. If I do it, what commission do I get?” Mr. Shifter’s expression changed; it be- trayed a degree of interest. “How, much business?”’ he inquired. “A hundred dollars a day — perhaps more.” Mr. Shifter’s expression underwent an- other change—it was suspicion now. Ina casual way he extended a cushiony white. hand, on which a diamond sparkled, to a convenient paper-weight. “A day, did you say?” he questioned He read the | softly. Matt repressed a smile. obese person’s thought. “Yes. You’ve got no real grip on your customers; nothing binding. It’s a habit, largely, that keeps them coming to you. The other fellow can get them away, if ‘he tries hard enough. What you want is to hold them. My plan will do it, and boost your business; a hundred dollars a day for ten weeks anyway. After that we can talk some more. What’s the answer?” “Ten weeks—six thousand dollars,” purred Mr. Shifter, his eye on the ceiling, his hand on the weight. “That sounds good.” “Perhaps more,” stipulated Matt. “Oh, sure!” agreed Mr. Shifter soothing- “YT understand. You have a plan. Come in tomorrow, and we'll talk it over. It may cool off by then—the weather,” he supplemented hastily, for fear the madman might misconstrue him. “J shall be busy tomorrow,” demurred Matt. “All I want to know today is the commission you are prepared to pay. How about twenty-five per cent.?” _ “Sure! Ona hundred dollarsa day? You Adventure bet!’ Mr. Shifter’s assent was hearty to enthusiasm. A quick idea occurred to Matt. “It will oblige me if you will put it in writing,” he requested. “It doesn’t com- mit you in any way until I turn in the busi- ness.” “Why not wait until you—until every- thing is ready?”’ suggested Mr. Shifter ca- jolingly. “In the meantime you have my word.” “It won’t do.” Matt’s tone was deter- mined. ‘I must have something to show. It’s part of my plan; and it won’t take a minute.” Matt, who had not been invited to a seat, had drawn nearer to the laundryman as he spoke. The latter, reading in his visitor’s earnest mien a menace to his rightful length of years, threw hesitation to the winds. He ‘abandoned the paper-weight as an inade- quate protection, drew a sheet of the laun- dry’s stationery to him, dipped his pen in ink, and said with a bright cheerfulness: “Tf it’s part of your plan—of course! Go ahead; tell me how you want it put.” “Say this,” prompted Matt: “ ‘I, An- drew Shifter, for and in behalf of the White Star Laundry, hereby agree to pay Matthew Bailey a cash commission of twenty-five per cent., payable in full on demand, on all laundry-work orders to the value of not less than one hundred dollars a day that he or his agents may turn in to me during the period of ten consecutive weeks from date of delivery of the first one hundred dol- lars’ worth. The work when done to be charged out at my present published price-- list.’ ”” Mr. Shifter scrawled this off in a shaky hand, but with an alacrity begotten of the assurance that the veriest child could see the preposterous agreement bound him to nothing at all. A hundred dollars a day for ten weeks running? With seven other laun- dries scouting for work? It couldn’t be done! He signed the paper with a courageous flourish and proffered it to Matt. “‘There you are,” he said briskly. ‘“That ought to do you, eh?” A man was passing the door. Matt step- ped to it and accosted him. *“Get somebody and come in here,”’ he or- dered. “Mr. Shifter wants you to witness @ paper.” 7 “Eh? Isay! What?” ejaculated the fat Gomichboo S (EC)