The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-07-12
GOING TO THE DOGS.

y .
Leonard, +" said a customer, as he en-
tered the shop of a master mechanic.
1--WE are sending out all our ac-
counts at this season." returned the
mechanic, bowing.
81 want to pay you"
Very well, Mr.. Baker, we are al
ways glad to get money"
But YOU must throw off some
thing. Let me seen-and the Gus
toner drew out the bill-"twenty-
seven dollars and forty-six cents
twenty-five will do. There, receipt
the bill and | will pay you"
But Leonard shook his head.
81 can't deduct cent from the
bill, Mr.. Baker Every article is
charged at our regular price.
"Ob, yes, you can. just make it
twenty-five dollars, even money.
Here it is" And Baker counted out
the cash
81 am sorry, Mr.. Baker. | cannot
afford to deduct anything. If you'd
only owed me twenty-five dollars.
your bill would have been Just that
amount would not have added a
cent beyond what is due, nor can /
take anything less than my due"
Then you won't deduct the cd d
mobey?"
II cannot indeed
Very we'll" The manner of The
customer was changed. He was evil
IDENTIFY offended The bill is too
high by just the sum | asked to have
stricken of. But. no matter, can
pay it,"
Then you mean TO insinuate.r
said the mechanic, who was an inde
pendent sort of man, that | am
cheating you out of two dollars and
forty-six cents!"
Il didn't say So"
But it is plain that you think so.
/ or you wouldn't have asked an abate-
ment you consider my charges
Just you wouldn't dispute them"
/ "0F, never mind, never mind, we'll
not waste words about it. Here's
your money" said Mr.. Baker. and
he added another FIVE dollar bill to
the sum he had laid down. The
mechanic receip,ed the account and
gave the change, both of which his
customer thrust into his pocket with
a petulant air, and then turned away
and left the shop without another
word.
"Its the last bill be will ever have
against me, y muttered Baker to him.
self as be walked away. ''lf that is
his manner of treating his customers,
he'll soon go to the dogs. 1t was
downright insulting, and no gentle.
man will stand that from another,
much less from a vulgar mechanic.
Mean to insinuatei' Yes Humph!
Yes. / did mean to insinnate," and
Mr. Baker involuntarily quickened
his pace. Hell lose good curtom-
er,n he continued to himself. Il have
paid him a great deal of money, but
it's the last dollar of mine he'll ever
handle"
Baker was as good as his word.
He withdrew his custom from the Of
Tending mechanic, and then gave it to
another
"I've got one Of your old costom-
ers, Leopard" said friend in the
same business, TO the mechanic, some
six or eight months afterward.
"Abl who is it!"
Baker"
Leonard shrugged bis shoulders.
How came you to lose him."
an tell you how to keep him?"
"Well, how?n
"lf your bill amounts to thirty dol.
lars make it thirty-tbree and few
odd cents by increasing some of the
items. He viii want the surplus
knocked of, which you can afford to
do; then be will pay it aud think you
inst the man for him."
"You lost him then because you
wouldn't sbate anything from true
bill?"
II did,"
Thank You. But suppose my
bill should be twenty-six or seven, or
eight; what then? | couldn't knock
off the odd dollars for the purpose of
making an even sum-"
"No, IL that case you must added
on until you get above thirty
land fall back on that
"Yes il viii be knocking off add
dollars, which be will think clear
gain"
THAT would be hardly bonest.n
Hardly. But you must do it or
lose his custom some other day."
Il shall have to accommodate him,
! suppose If he win be cheated, it,
can I be helped"
On the very first bill Baker paid to
his new tradesman. he obtained an
abatement of one dollar and ninety
cents odd money. but actually paid
three more than was justly due.
Sill ba uas uelj niyh satisfied i'm