Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-09-13

L st summer, while engagedin the
tooacco and sugar business, used
to have for a customer III cheap
cigars one Of those knowing fellows
whose knowledge serves better to
bore his victiam than advancing
science. You couldn't make hum
believe that-oh no Tell HIM
there were regalia cigars that cost
so per thousand 1T might do to
stuff down the Threats Of those who
knew no better; he was none OF
them. And SO it was with every
thing he always knew best
1t always appeared to be his delight
TO draw me into some controversy,
10 matter what the subject, IN order
70 have himself hold forth | tried
every way | could think of TO cir
cumvent him, but at last | did sue
ceed in laying him out as Hat as
founder.
It was on a Saturday afternoon,
he came in. made his purchase, and
seated himself to deal me out his
usual portion but | was awake
for him.
..Captain,'' said |, II have made
up my mind to 90 California, and
if YOU wish to 90 into speculation,
now Is your time"
AS how = said he.
',Whv, you see them fifteen boxes
Of cigars Z Well there are two
hundred and fifty iii each box, and
| will let YOU have the whole fifteen
at a low rate providing you will
take them all
Very well" said my friend, 'let's
hear the conditions"
you give me one cent for the
first box. two for the second, four
cents tor the third and SO double up
Oh every box"
Done !" said he: fetch on your
CIGARS. S'po5e YOU think | haven't
money enough-eh F!
Not at ali, so lets proceed here's
the first box"
lie drew from his pocket a leath-
ern purse, and out Of handful OF
coin.
:. And heres the cent" said he,
depositing a green discoIored cop
per on the counter"
: Here's your second box"
and here's your two cents"
Every well. heres the third box
And here's your four cents"
said he chuckling,
s.IIere's your fourth box"
"EXactlt, and here's your eight
cents LA Ia ha old fellow.
O. on"
,.IIcrc's your fifth box" said I,
handing down another box.
And here's your sixteen cents"
s-IIere's sixth box"
sand Ina, ha. ha.-Iere's your
.rirty-two cents"
,iii4re's your seventh box"
And hcre-ha! by Jove, the
Joke is getting too !ich-here's your
sizty-four cents, and nearly half
your cigars are gone.
.,IIere's your eighth box. sal,, :,
assuming cool indifference that
perfectly a=tonished the fellow.
.Andherc'e your dollar and TWEEN
ty-ei-hr cents.
Heres your ninth box"
,.And here's vour-let me SEQ
al two dollars and fittv-six cents"
Heres your tenth box"
Here he drew his wallet thought
folly, and on the slate made small
calculation.
And here's your five dollars and
twelve cents
Heres Your eleventh box"
And here's vour-twice five Is
ten. twice twelve is twentv-tour-
ten dollars and twenty-fom cents"
II this stare of the game he got
quite docile, and ! continued:
Here's yoar twelfth box; hand
over twenty dollars and forty-eight
] cents.
Here the gIobuIes Of perspiration
large as marrowfat peas, stood ont
n bold relief on his face. but at
la he dolcd out the sum"
Heres Your thirteenth box
fork over your forty dollars and
ninety eiN cents.
II this crisis he looked perfectly
wild.
The sweat was pouring off him
In streams, and the tobacco Juice
/. l. ~.