"You're right there, Hoover," re
marked Watkins, the dry goods sales
man. "I agree with you. You've heard
of Ed Wilson, who used to be in busi
ness away down in Alma, Neb.,
haven't you?"
"Yes, I've heard of that fellow. A
great many of the boys have spoken
to me about him."
"Yes, sir; Wilson was strictly bus
iness. He prided himself on keeping
an appointment that he made right to
the minute. He bought goods quickly
and if he bought anything at a low
price-say a good clean job lot at 50
cents on the dollar-he would give
his customers the benefit of it. When
he first started in business he nearly
went broke at making long profits and
giving long time. He took a tumble
to himself all at once and quit pat
ronizing blank book men-no more
ledgers for him. He turned as com
plete a business somersault as any
man I ever knew. He is 'way out
there in the hot wind country, but he
has built up a big business. People
know that Wilson sells stuff cheap,
and people come through other towns
to buy goods from him. When I first
knew him his credit was no good.
