"Travel out of New York, but my home's in Keokuk. Great little burg; thirty thousand population and thirty-five hundred automobiles, not to mention flivvers...." Here Strawbridge laughed heartily, sharing the wide-spread American conviction that to make a distinction between an automobile and a flivver is the most amusing flight of human wit. "And, say," he added, when he had finished his lonely laugh, "I wish you could see the Keokuk window displays; give you some pointers, young man."
The young man was smiling agreeably, so the drummer turned to business.
"Well," he began optimistically, "trade picking up here as everywhere, I suppose?"
The monkey-eyed youth agreed without enthusiasm.
"Your export trade showing any strength?"
"I am only a clerk, señor; I have no export trade."
"Yes, I know; I meant...." It became clear that it was not worth while to pursue this topic. They had reached the hardware department. The clerk stood silent while Strawbridge looked around him. The stock was fuller than the American had expected.
A sudden idea occurred to Strawbridge:
"Look here, why don't you get out a big display of this stuff? You could push out a lot of it."