Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-05-31
Going to the Dogs.
feSp. yours.
Geo. Brown,
by T. S. ARTHUR.

i received your bill to day, Mr. Leon
ard, said customer, as lie entered the
shop OF IA uiaste: nlcchanic'
W e are sending out our accounts at
this season. returned the mechanic bow
ing.
Il want to pay you.'
Very we'll, Mr. Baker, we're always s lad
to get money
but YOU must throw off something
Let me sec. and the customer drew ut the
bill twenty seven dollars and forty slx
cents. twenty. five will do. There re
celpt the bill and will pay YOU
ijul Leonard shook his head.
:. can deduct u cent from that bill, Mr.
Baker. Every article Is charged at our
regular prices.
.Oh YES. vou can. Just make it twenty
five dollars even money. Here 1t iS' and
Baker counted out the cash
I'm sorry, Mr.. Baker, But cannot af'
lofd 10 dcduct ANY tnIus. ii IA ', uni} uiAed
.nrtaeny ike dollars, your blil ,.9t. at i4,V1f
been lust that amount. wunld not i''.s {
added Il gent beyond what was due. nor can
| take anything less than my own
Then you won't deduct the odd money!!
Il cannot indeed
VERY well. III manner of the custom
er changed. He was evidently offended.
The bill is too high by just that sum l ask.
ed to have stricken oil. But no matter
can pay it
Then you mean to insinuatc,' said the
uechanic, who was an independent sort OF
nan, that am cheating You out OF two
dollars and forty SIX centsF
Il didn't say so.
But it is plain that you think 80 or You
wouldn't have asked an abatement. lfyou
considered my charges just you would not
dispute them.'
.Oh, never mind, never mind we'll not
waste words about it. Here's your money
said Mr.. Baker, and he added another five
dollars to the sum he had laid down. The
mechanic receipted the account and gave
the change both of which his customer
thrust INTO his pocket with petulant all
and then turned and left the shop without
another word.
It's the last bill he ever has against me-
muttered Baker to himself, as he walked
away. III that his manner OF treating
customers he'll soon so to the dogs. lie
was downright insulting, and no gentleman
will stand that from another. Mean to IN
sinuate Ilumph! Yes. | did mean to in
sinuate,' and Mr.. Baker involuntary quick
ened his pace. Hell soon so to the dogs
I've paid him great deal OF money, but II
is the last dollar of mine he ever handles
Baker was as goodas his word. He with
drew his custom from the offending mechan'
lc and gave it to another.
I've sot one ofyour old customers, Leon
ard. said a friend in the same business, viii
the mechanic, some six or eight months at
I terwards.
All. who isit!
| 'iaker.'
Leonard shrugged his shoulders.
How came you TO lose him'
I'll tell you how to keep him.
We'll, howl
If your bill amounts to thirty dollars
make it thirty -th,ee and Il few odd cents
by increasing some OF its items. lie vii
. want the surplus knocked oil, which yoI
can afford co do; then he will pay 1t aud
think you are just the man for h'm :,
you lost hin, then. because You woult
not abate anything from true bill
i did -,
.Thank YOU But suppose your bil
should be twenty-siy or seven or eight
what then! Ieould knock OIL the odd dol
ar for tho purpose Of making it even.