As the talk progressed he was convinced of
it.
Yet Carson began at the human, not the business, end of the matter.
Richard Kendrick, himself full of concern for his friend Hugh Benson,
liked that, too.
"I never felt sorrier for a man in my life," said Carson. "He shows a
lot of pluck; he never once owned that the thing was too much for him.
But I got him to talking--a little. Didn't need to talk much; the whole
place was shouting at me--every counter, every showcase. Thunder!"
"How did you get him to talking?" Richard asked eagerly.
"Represented myself as an ex-travelling man--the dry-goods line. It's
true enough, if not just the way he took it. Of course he didn't give me
any facts about his business, but we discussed present conditions of the
trade pretty well, and he owned that a good many things puzzled him just
as much as when he was a little chap and used to listen to his father
giving orders. What's going to be wanted and how much? When to load up
and when to unload? How to catch the public fancy and not get caught
yourself? In short, how to turn over the stock in season and out of
season--turn it over and get out from under! He knows no more than a man
who can't swim how to keep his head above water.
Pages:
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228