“Very good, and you might try the interior of New York as well—if you stick at it long enough.”
“How many books would you advise my taking along?”
“Take one each of the health and cattle books, and one of the famous novels, with a list of the rest. When you take orders, get the folks to sign a regular order blank, stipulating when the books are to be delivered and paid for. Set the delivery so you can deliver books in a bunch. We can send them to you by express whenever and wherever you wish.”
“I understand.”
“We have some neat carrying cases for our agents, and I will lend you one of them, and also furnish you with the necessary pamphlets, describing the books, and also order blanks.”
“I will pay you for what books I take out, Mr. Vincent.”
“I don’t want you to do that. You can consider the books as samples and return them to me if you give up the work later. Usually I make an agent leave a deposit for the books and the case, but I feel I can trust you.”
“Thank you very much. I’ll take good care of the books and the case too.”
“Usually agents are also required to pay for books they order while on the road. I shall instruct my clerk to give you credit up to fifty dollars’ worth of goods, so you need not pay for books until after you deliver them and get your money. Of course, if you buy books and then cannot make folks take them you can return them to me at full value.”
“You are very kind, sir. I’ll do my best to sell books, Mr. Vincent, not only for my own sake, but also for yours.”