And
this matter of the salesman was his first blood in that line. The man
brought with him a list of prospects as long as his arm, and a wide
acquaintance in the town, both assets of exceeding value. Altogether
Thompson got off to a flying start. The arrangement whereby Henderson
consigned cars to him enabled him to concentrate all his small capital
on a sales campaign. He paid freight and duty. His cars he paid for when
they were sold--and the discount was his profit.
When his salesroom was formally opened to the public, with five Summits
on the floor and twice as many en route, when his undertaking and his
car models had received the unqualified approval of a surprising number
of callers, Thompson left the place to his salesman and went to see
Sophie Carr.
That was a visit born of sudden impulse, a desire to talk about
something besides automobiles and making money. But Sophie was out. Her
father, however, made him welcome, supplementing his welcome with red
wine that carried a kick. Thompson sat down before a fireplace, glass in
hand, stretched his feet to the fire, and listened to his host talk.
"Considering your early handicaps you have certainly shown some speed
in adapting yourself to conditions," Carr observed facetiously.
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