The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1853-07-01
TME CROSSED DOLLAR;
The Country Dealer and his Clerk.

large stores so common in fiourlshlng
country towns-wbere every article of
produce is bought from the farmers round
about, and where every kind Of goods
usually needed in the country, is kept.
He was sharp featured, shrewd looking
man, somewhat turned Of fifty, and as
hard as diamond at trade. He could
buy the best of produce at ihA lowest
rates, and. he could sell his auction
bought goods at alarmiugly high prices.
In short he never failed to make round
profit at both ends Of the bargain, He.
did not hesitate to overstep the bounds Of
honesty, when he had fair chance,
though he always did II in such mans
ner that his old adagc, ga bargain"
would safely shield him.
"Lyman," said he to his son one day,
ayoung man some twenty years old, and
almost the counterpart Of his father save
that he showed more recklessness of dis.
position, "did you make a trade with
farmer Jonesi"
eyes" ~
-"Whal did you charge him for tina,
sugar and tea?" ,vgl6
"Ninepence for the sugar, and half
dollar for the tea. Made him believe il
was extra, you see."
t"Tha,'s right. And what did you
charge himfo the coffee::" r9
"Ah, there / had him! | made the old
man believe twas extra old Javu-
charged him fifteen cents"
"Preiiy good, my son, only you might
have put on half cent. You see you
can make, great point out of that
When you come the half cent over them
they thing you are shaving closer down
10 cost. But you did very well, Lyman
Now, wha, did you allow Jones for his
beansf" LII,
"Nine an sixpence.
-"Ob! you shouldn't have given that.
A dollar, or dollar and ninepence would
have been enough"
"But they were nice ones, father, care-
fully picked and clean"
"You should have made him believe
tney were pooreT.
r'sBut howi"
s'Oh, when you found the old man had
boans TO exchange for goods, you should
have taken handful Of poorer ones from
one of our barrels, and watched your op-
portuni,y TO scatter them over the top Of
his. Don't you understandn
eyes. | see now, father"
2"That's right. We mus, live and
thrive, you sec, and who makes the most,
comes out the best in the end. Always
take advantage of a customer when YOU
can, but be careful and keep the brigh,
side out." 5tf r utr1
This was the way the father taught his
son, aud how his son prof,ed by it the
sequel will show.
b "By the way, Lyman" coniiansd the
old man., NJ have discovered who it is
that has been robblng my money
drawe.?"
"Ahm uttered the son, turning al
that moment TO arrange piece Of calico,
which didn't need any fixing at all, sand
who is in"
"Wilton Cunningham"
"l shouldn't wonder in the least, J
0ever liked The fellow, and have often
wondered what made you keep him."
81 wouldn't have kept him, only that
he is such remarkably smart book
keeper, and beautiful writer, too.-
He ain't fit 10 trade" 9J@B
-2"No, you can never make him believe
it's right TO drive snug trade. But how
did you manage to detect him:"
"l'll lell you," returned the old man.
"TIast week took particular notice Of
some silver dollars that were in the money
drawer, end determined that would set
trop for the thief. took out four Of
the pieces and crossed them very care
fully, and in such manner that one not
acquainted with the secret would not be
likely TO notice it.; then put them back
into the drawer. Mex. morning one of
them was gone, and as all our trade the
day before had been barter or credit, |
knew that i, could not have been given
in change. Of course, my suspicious
fell upon Wilton, and | at once began to
look about TO see where he had spent the
money, end found that he had paid Mr..
Wiley, and asked TO see the money
Wilton had paid him, and found my
crossed dollar. It's as plain as day
liglhm
n"Cer.ainly il is, said Lyman.
"The,e can be no doubt of il, added
the old man, in confident tone, and
then with sarcastic sneer. he said:-
"His seeming honesty is all the result Of
fear. He dare not make bold trade,
but ho can steal in the dark, though"
Just then customer entered, and
while iMr. Randall was trading with him,
Wilton Cunningham came in. The lat-
Ter was not over one and twenty, and
though appearances are deccitful yet il
would be hard work 10 make pbysiogno-
mist believe that he could be a thief
The young clerk went Immediately TO
his desk, and as soon as Mr.. Randall was
al liberty, he joined him.