Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

Chung Mei Bo. CHARLIE CHONG, A. M. Bursting into the rabbit hutch its owner reserved for his own pri- vacy, he informed his august employer that the lean days were at an end and that he, Charlie Chong, was prepared to fill the hol- low advertising columns and keep the paper safe in the ranks of modernity. ““T will continue to look after the edi- torial end,” he concluded, ‘“‘ and at the same time—”’ “Tf you do, you will be more wonderful than the Temple of Heaven,” interrupted - the publisher with scarce a twinkle in his keen eyes and then airing a morsel of for- eign learning of which he felt justly proud: ‘“Compared to the plan you propose, the labors of the somewhat celebrated Her Ku Lees will shrink to babe’s play. If Ah Moy, the goddess of luck, smiles upon you, not only will you have my admiration, but fif- teen per cent of the business gained.”’ “Which is more welcome than incense before the tablets of the departed or the harmony of rhetoric in the ears of the liv- ing,” replied Charlie Chong with a serious- ness that was not entirely in keeping with the boyish legs and rounded cheek. Then with that native canniness that is baffling to Jew and Parsee, Armenian and Connecti- cut Yankee “ Fifteen per cent is quite all right up to the first thousand dollars of new business, but after that—”’ “After that—twenty-five per cent,” broke in Tze Mong, glowing with generos- ity, for the picture Charlie Chong had held before him was far less real than the fables of the Dragon god. “That is—up to five thousand,” the young man suggested, “‘ and after that—” “After that—fifty per cent,’ the pub- lisher spoke recklessly, like one who had chosen all ten winning spots in the Sun Kung lottery and is possessed of great and sudden wealth. ‘“ After that—fifty per cent —I shall not be niggardly.”’ “Not fifty per cent,” Charlie knew the costs of publication. ‘“ There would be no silver for you at that and business in which both members of the deal do not profit breeds bad blood and ruin, says the sage of Shantung.”’ Tze Mong’s narrow eyes appraised the young man shrewdly. Perhaps some wild I Ko ng ee streak of luck would favor this sprightly youth. ; ‘Thirty per cent,” he said hastily. And thus was the business arranged. Charlie Chong put in the next few morn-. ings making a careful study of applying practically the wisdom of Bong Lee. He haunted the great department stores and watched the purchases of Chinese custom- ers. He studied the advertisements of the English language papers and mapped simi- lar announcements in his own tongue. “Oneweek has gone and I have been called upon for no percentages,” Tze Mong goad- ed one day when Charlie was finishing the draft of a page advertisement that he had prepared to submit to a leading department store. ‘Be patient, worthy Tze Mong,” he re- plied, “‘I shall have good news before the time for evening rice.” Charlie Chong had dressed with meticu- lous care to invade the citadel of John Har- vey, advertising manager for Jones & Co. The presentation of his sample page an- nouncement had been rehearsed and edited with the care candidates use in preparing their speeches of acceptance. It was with palpitating heart that he was ushered into Harvey’s presence to launch a barrage of words, each an argument why Jones & Co. should be represented in the Chinese press. “T am sorry,” John Harvey said when | Charlie Chong had concluded, ‘‘ your propo- sition sounds interesting, but our advertis- ing budget is made out-a year in advance and even our emergency fund has been ex- pended. Come back, say about September 1, when we are looking after next year’s business and I shall be glad to talk to you.” With a cheerful “ Good morning,” he terminated the interview, and Charlie Chong found himself upon the rug outside the private office, utterly crushed. He had conjured a vision of returning to Tze Mong with an adipose contract and demanding fifteen per cent. And now—one-fourth of his precious month had fled to the cavern- ous past. In three more weeks there would be a change in the editor’s chair at the Chung Mei Bo. | Next he hurried to another department store. The advertising manager was in Eomichooks: co 447 .