Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1917 — Billy Shafer’s Deal [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Billy Shafer’s Deal

By ALICE E. IVES

(Copyright, 1917, by W. G. Chapman.) Billy Shafer breezed into town, and put up at the best hotel. It was easily the best- because there w’as but one other, and that was the tavern. If continued to be called the tavern, for being devoid of such frivolities as modern improvements, it preferred like an old decayed family to maintain the dignity of old traditions. Billy was a traveling salesman whose territory being restricted to small towns, and hence h<Jt productive of large pecuniary returns, wont to add to his incom’e by being also a book agent for a remarkable volume called “A Treasury of Unusual Knowledge.” He did* not find that the community at large was yearning for knowledge, still he sold a few copies in each town, and he did not get discouraged. That was one beautiful thing about Billy; no adverse fate or series of setbacks ever gave him a grouch or even dampened his spirits. This was of course his greatest, asset in the business of being a drummer. It was quite Impossible to rebuff Billy; he bounded back like a rubber ball. So it was that Billy's visits began ta be'looked forward to with something of the expectation of a traveling circus. The regular boarders (strolled out of the hotel dining room, and the u§ual outsiders drifted-into the lobby, and Billy was soon the center of a group ranging in variety all the way from Al Barkum. the village “cut up,” to Emery Bond, deacon of the Baptist church. “Still distributing that wonderful treasury of knowledge!” scoffed one of the group. “Yes,” answered Billy cheerfully. “I didn’t have time to get around mucic before; I expect to sell about fifty this time.” A chorus of laughter greeted his answer; but it made no perceptible im-

presston on Billy except to cause him to smilingly join in with the general merriment. “Well, I’ve looked over that book—you know you got me to buy one,” remarked the deacon reproachfully, “and I didn’t find anything ‘unusual’ about it.” “There is' never,” said Billy oracularly, “anything ‘unusual’ about true knowledge.” “You bet there will be something ‘unusual’ about yoUr 'selling any more o’ -those books ‘round here,” added the drug clerk rather belligerently. - “Well now,” said Billy good naturedly, “because that kind of knowledge don’t exactly appeal to you is no sign that there are not others whose 1 ives and libraries would be incomplete without it.” The chaffing and laughter that followed was broken into by Al Barkum calling out: “O come on boys! what’s the use o’ knocking a fellow who’s trying to make his grub? It won’t do any o* you any harm to own a book, even if you never read it. Say Shafer, did you ever try Ann Peabody in Oak street?” Billy replied that he hadn’t combed that quarter. “It’s number eighteen, a little cottage pretty well back from the street. She’ll be sure to take a book.” A chorus of dissent and laughter followed. “Say now, Al, what are you giving him?" cried- one of the men. “You know w'hen that prim, little old maid once snaps her mouth or her purse shut it’s sort o’ dangerous to try to open ’em.” “Old maid!” sniffed Barkum. “Why ihercan’t, be a day over twenty-five. I can 1 remember when she was a kid ’ with her hair down her bask.” “You know.” cried the deacon. “Ann hasn’t any money to spend on books, and it ain’t just fair to go a pestering her.” “Pestering!” exclaimed Billy, “why, I consider I am conferring a great favor on anyone to whom I offer that Valuable book.”

“I’ll bet you don’t sell her one!" snorted the drug .clerk. “Put up your money 1” shouted Billy. “I bet I do." “You’ll have a run fqt your money if you do.” laughed another. “Say,” inquired Billy, “is It bull dogs or rolling pins?” y “Neither one.” answered the deacon. “It’s the way Ann Peabody says ‘no.’" It was true Ann Peabody wasn’t many days over twenty-five; but the loss of both parents leaving her with very little besides the small cottage, and at the age of fifteen, a baby brother to ‘mother,’-had seemed to age her before her time. Her* youth had been cut off and dwarfed in the bud. She had to eke Out her small means by sewing, she could dress only very plainly, and her pride and sensitiveness, kept her from trying to push her way Into the yotfng society of the town. Jimmy was now a freckle-faced boy of twelve, and an ever Increasing expense to Ann. When Billy appeared with the book he was met with a negative that would have caused even the most hardened of book agents to beat a hasty retreat. But Billy espied the small brother looking curiously at the volume, so he opened at a picture, and smiled : “Here son, it won’t cost you anything to look.” Jimmy took advantage of the invitation, and his highly amusing descriptions, and breezy talk holding the boy’s attention, and incidentally. Ann’s, his call was considerably prolonged. “I’ll be along this way tomorrow," he said on leaving. ‘lt won’t be any trouble to call, and perhaps you will change your mind.” “No, I shant,” said Ann firmly. “It wont be any use.” But Billy aided and abetted by the “freckle-faced kid” was the next day let into the cottage, and smilingly confronted it’s mistress. He did not at flrst:speakoftheboojkbutranpp,as only Billy could, about current happenings. Ann was being entertained by a kind of man so new and delightful to her shut-in life that even against her wish she let him stay. But as he was leaving she let him know she had not changed her mind about the book. He answered he would call again the next day to see, and oddly enough she made no objection. f Billy did not intend to lose his bet, and he turned up promptly at the appointed time. — Jimmy also appeared and importuned his sister for a cookey. “Now Jimmy,” temporized Ann, “it’s almost time for supper—and we’re going to have waffles and sirup!” “Um!” cried Jimmy, “I guess I’ll save up till then.” “I would if I were you, son. I think I’d save up a good deal for waffles and sirup." There was such a lonesome, homeless ring to the young man’s words that Ann at the unthought of proceeding flushed a bit as she asked him to stay. Billy accepted the Invitation with alacrity, did full justice to the waffles, and told her she was the most wonderful cook he had found since his J mother died. He also evolved a scheme by which Jimmy could pay for the book by helping him carry some samples. Jimmy being exceedingly eager i for the job, his sister consented. Billy 1 won his bet. A shorter time than the usual interval elapsed when Billy again came to town. He had the unblushing affrontery to call on Ann to ask how she liked the book. The next day he came to take Jimmy to the "movies;” the following day he came without any excuse. It was during about the third or fourth visit that Jimmy rushed in, and blurted out: “Say sis, Al Barkum ast me'lf you hnnght that honk, cause he. said he wouldn’t, an’— - Billy turned and reached for Jimmy, JBuFhe had fled. “So it was just a bet,” she said in a dull forlorn way, as though suddenly stricken. “Yes. But I didn’t keep on coming bn a bet,” said Billy. “And I didn’t bet I’d marry you.” “It’s well you didn’t,” she said. Pride had now come to the rescue, and her eyes were flashing. “You w’ould have lost.” “What makes you think so?" asked Billy. _l‘What 'makes me think so?” she echoed blankly. “What do you mean?” It seemed that she must have understood what he meant, for the next instant he was holding her so tightly she did not even hear Jimmy exclaim: "Geel"

‘Yea, ’’ Answered Billy, Cheerfully.