The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-09-16
HOW | MADE AN ASSIGNMENT.

HOW I MADE An ASSIGNMENT.
ANY one travelling with you, sir?''
q" No. sir" And / moved my bundle
from the seat to the floor. A very styl-
iShly dressed man sat down in thcplace
thus made vacant, and busted himself
In slowing away his umbrella and hat
box. As he finished his task and
slraightencd up, | took a glance at his
face. II was Tom Bennett. An old
cumrade Of mine when | was a clerk AT
Scwall'S. and one whom | had not met
for years. lie evidently did not recog-
nize me, but drew Il Tribune from his
pocket. and began to read. concluded
that | would not make myself known
just yet.
watched him skip the political and
"heavy" items, and bury himself in the
seaside gossip. How the fellow had
changed. to be sure. When / had
known him he was salesman for Black
n Company. dry-goods men. He was
pretty good salesman, too. The way
he could talk woman into buying 4
drcSS-pattcru was wonderful never
knew Just what salary Black paid him.
but it was a good one.
was confidential clerk for Sewall,
and was paid pretty well for my ser.
vices Tom and made common cause
awainst the .irls and were gay young
brauN. | settled down when old Sewal
died. went into business for myself,
married, prospercd, grew rich and care
less about my clothes. Tom went into
business for himself with some men who
had capital. aud did a tremendous busi-
ness for awhile. 'Fhcn some reports
were in circulation that were damaging
10 their credit, and | lost all track of
him. Yet 10 look at Tom, aS he sat be-
side me. one would suppose him to be 4
railroad president, or a member of Con
grcsS.
After he had dcvoured his paper, OF
ut least that much of it that he was in
tcrcStcd In. / prepared TO draw him ont.
Il have the C0mH3crciai BUlleiul
here, said /, perhaps You would like
to look at it,
Thanks, no, sir. | am not interest
ed IN commercial matters
Twas highly amused at his tone as hc
said this. and concluded to lead him on.
81 fmcicd YOU might be business
man. sir / said. Perhaps you are
bound for the Sprin@s?'
Yes, sir; | am going to Saratoga
Are YOU going there, Sir?'
Yes. but | am afraid | am moi going
to enjoy my visit there. | am not USED
to crowds. and have been so busy al
my life till now. that | do not know how
To @ct pleasure ont of idleneSS.n
Where is yuur place of business? ?''
"In New York
"What line?''
Importing cutlery"
An on Chambers Street?'' ...
"NcS."
"Do You know Sewall and Com
pauy?"
Quite WE'LL
The Company is an old friend o
mine: know him?"
..Nou mean Brown? Oh, yes; know
him aS well aS | know myself" "
"Ah. indeed; am glad | met You.
This he said in 4 very lordlyway. jim
and | were very good friends when w
were Younger than we are now, but
lost Siyht of him for some years, though
/ understood the house was doing well.
MY name, said /, drawing out
card. "is Brown, too and l hande'
him bit Of paSte-board.
He looked at it. then at me, and wa
slow in recognizing me. We had ;
hearty hand-Shakc when he finally re
called me. and he appeared somewha
cha@riued at not having known IA
from the first.
d" You knew me, You rascal, SAID he
.'Now what did YOU mean by trying t.
pump me in his manner?'
"Whal did YOU mean," | rejoined
''hy saving You were not interested II
buSiucS>?'
because | am not. ! am off 70
pleasure. and out of business, be hange
10 it,"
e. Not married vet, eh, Tom?'
Married! | should say not. Bu
keen your eve on me. jim. ! am @oin
10 find a rich widow at Saratoga thi
summer. or else my name Is not Toi
Bennett"
"But how are You getting on in tn
world. Tom? Tell me something {
yourself.
We'll. Jim, l have proSpered, an
then again have not proSpered. 10
see. was a good salesman and am L
day. I can discount any manin sellin
dI.v-goodS. l left Black and went int
business with Merritt, in Philadelphi;
There was a good opening there, an
we >teppcd in and filled in Trade W;
e. good from the very first day, and oI
profits counted up big when the end {
ihe wear came around. The next We;
we increased our trade and our profit
and kept on doing this until | was wort
clean hundred thousand. Now a IL
low who has that much money Is elth'
q smart man or 4 devilish fool. don
mind admitting TO you, Jim, that W.
a fool; a REGULAR ass. Somebody toW
out that waS what | was, and L w
solicited to take some stock IN an lnsu
ance company, and promised that
should be made president. | bit atone
| subscribed for ten thousand dollar
worth of stock, was elected preSiden
and had to pay ten thousand dolla
more 10 get out of the Scrape.. II
thing was cursed Swindle. | we
into oil. and lost. | bought gold, aH
coId went down rs if it was lead.
had a gay time with the boys: We
and with the girls, too; and money we
fast and free. To cut it short. at Il
md of the wear | was not worth re
and Merritt forced me out of the iirl
IL. cone on: stuck to his dry good
and i worth a million.
"But YOU went into something's
asked. .-.--,. - .
over bad luck. went 10 work on
salary again; and pretty soon 1ouI
another Opening. started a lace $40
with old Hughes, Of Ball and Hugh'
for partner. The old man was trum