The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-04-04
A SCARED FIRM. \

I
business men keenly alive to every report
or rumor affecting mercantile credit,
while losses Of some firms by shrinkage of
values and the misiortunes of customers
have caused them to look after all available
means pretty sharply. A firm of this class,
which had been prospecting as how to
make every dollar possible, the other day
had an interview with responsible Gus
toner, of long standing, with regard to
the latter's discounting his own paper,
which they held to quite large amount.
The transaction was nearly concluded,
but left quiet for day or two by the firm
in question-not wishing to press too hard
in quarter they expected to realize so
farvorably; then one of the partners
found to his CONSERVATION, on going to
the merchants counting-room that he had
left very suddenly for the West the day
before.
A council Of partners was Immediately
held, How should the money be raised?
In the midst of the discussion the letters
just arrived by mail from the West were
passed in, among which, one bearing the
absent merchants well known chirography
was detected.
"Ah v' exclaimed one of the trio,
here's something from old Bugle but
what the deuce is he doing at Erie ?"
added he glancing at the postmark of the
epistle. I" Let me see."
The letter was opened, and the partner
holding it proceed to read as follows:
"ERIE, PENN, January, 1871.
MesSers. Shorters, Pike R1st g. Co.,
GENTLEMEN.-It was unfortunate that l
did not see you before leaving town in re-
spect to the proposition made to take up
the paper. was compelled by pressing
circumstances to leave. You may think it
singular to hear from me here, but things
were going wrong at Chicago. You your
self must know the worst by this time /
have failed"
Pike, dashing the letter down upon the
floor. "The games up gentlemen our
goose is cooked"
"Failed, is it?" said the CO. "That's
the very word" roarod Pike F; Z" failed, and
just one hundred and five thousand dollars
gone TO pot, because you were so cursed
slow about the matter"
"Slow; what dye mean by that?'
shouted the other. off was as fast as
some men in this firm, it would have gone
to the wall months ago."
"Well, well, gentlemen" said old
Shorters, "don't quarrel let us see what
can be done about it,"
"Done," said Rust, putting in his oar
"nothing can be done. Our firms done.
You won't get ten cents on the dollar. l
always knew old Bulge would go under some
time-(Rust was one of those men who al
ways told you SO when anything happened)
Bulge has got away off in Pennsylvania
to get rid of his creditors-you'n whistle
for your money. But one thing is certain,
sixty thousand more has got to come into
this party before Thursday noon, OF there
will be another failure"
The eco" evidently thought seriously
of the "whistling" effort forhe followed his
partners assertion with lone-drawn,
expressive whew-w. "Send up to Brisket's
office and get out an attachment. Come
let's get in first among the first mou rners,
at all events" said Pike, leaping to his
feet, ,sezing his hat. r7. M al.lI
"Wait bit, said old Shorters, adjust
ing his eyeglasses, "let's look at the let
ter again. Why" said he, taking it up
from the hoor "you haven't read it all
here's writtin' on t'other side. .|
Z" Is there?" said Pike with a gasp,
"Well, what does he offer--twenty cents ?''
"You shall hear" said the senior partner
and proceeded to read the letter as Pike
had done, till he came to the following
" You yourselves must know the west
that's west, Pike, not worst"
"The deuce it is well, go on
"I have failed
"Ha, ha," said Pike, "no mistake about
that word"
"None at all said Shorters, turning over
the page, and continuing
81 have failed to make connection with
the night train and therefore improve the
opportunity to drop you this line saying l
will cash the whole amount of the paper at
the figures proposed. / send by this mail,
do the needful.
"Yours, respectfully,
/. BULGE"
I" Hurrah".' shouted the Co., execu-
ting pirouette; " that comes of being
slow slows the word my boy"
"Thats piece of luck, if it did cost
twelve per cent" said Rust Bulge
understands thing or two always
told you so he is sure to cash up if he
can make good shave"
Bulge did cash up; he made IA good
shave. Shorters, Pike, Rust & Co.,
were in funds, and Pike ever since always
looks on both sides of the letter sheets, as
well as questions, before coming to a con-
clusion.
bsS~A clergyman, having on u certain
occasion delivered himself of what is
called fine address, was met by one of