The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-11-23
Going to the Dogs /!

Il received your bill to-day, Mr.
Leonard said Mr.. Baker. as he enter.
ed the shop of master mechanic.
4 hope it will cause yon no trouble
I make it a rule to send out all bills a,
this season. returned the mechanic
bowing.
'Oh, no; not at all. am ready tC
pay you, said Baker, but think your
bill rather high. You must throw of
something. Let me see'-and the
| customer drew out the bill-'twenty.
seven dollars and forty-six cents
twenty-five will do. There. receipt
the bill, and I will pay YOU
But Leonard shook his head.
Il can't deduct cent from the bill
Mr.. Baker. Every article is charged
at our regular prices, and every cent
less than the bill is just so much cIeal
loss to me-
ooh, yes, you can. just make il
twenty-five dollars, even money. Hero
it is.' And Mr.. Baker counted out the
cash.
Il am sorry, Mr.. Baker, cannot af
ford to deduct anything. If you
owed me only twenty-five dollars
your bill would have been just thai
amount. would not have added a
cent beyond what is due, nor can
take anything less than my DUE
'rhen you won't deduct the odd
money!
Il cannot indeed
very WELL The manner of the GUS
toner was changed. lie was evident.
ly 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,' said
the mechanic, who was an independ-
ont sort of a man, that am cheating
you out of two dollars and forty-six
cents
Il didn't say so.'
But it is plain you think so, or you
wouldn't have asked an abatement.
If you considered my charges just you
wouldn't dispute them.'
tOh, 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 already laid down. The
mechanic receiptca the account and
made the change, both of which the
customer thrust into his pocket with a
petulent air, and then turned away
and left the shop without another
word.
Its the last bill he will ever have
against me- muttered Baker to him.
self as he turned away. If that is his
manner of treating his ustOmers. he'll
soon go to the dogs. 1t was down.
right insulting, and no gentleman will
stand that from another, much less
from vulgar mechanic. MEAN to
insinuate! Yes. Humph!' Yes, /
did mean to insinuate. and Mr.. Baker
voluntarily quickened his pace. 'He
will lose a good customer he contin.
ued to himself. Il have paid him a
great deal of money, but it's the last
dollar of my money he'll ever handle,
Baker was as good as his word. He
withdrew his custom from the offend.
ing mechanic and gave it to another.
pye got one Of your old customers,
Leonard said a friend in the same
business to the mechanic some six OF
eight months afterward.
'Ah who is it?'
Baker,
Leonard shrugged his shoulders.
'HOw came you to lose him.?
I'll tell you how to keep him. said
Leonard, if you want to adopt that
kind of business, l confess l do not
myself
well, How?'
If yonr bill amounts TO thirty dol
lars make it thirty-three and a few
odd cents by increasing some of the
items. He will want the surplus
knocked of, which you can afford to
do &; then he will pay it, aud think you
just the man for him.
you lost him then, because you
wouldn't abate anything from a true
bill?'
Il did,
Thank you. But suppose my bill
should be twenty-six, or seyen, OF
eight; what then? l couldn't knock
off the odd dollars for the purpose OF
making an even sum-
NO. In that case you must add on
till you get above thirty
And fall back on that? p
Yes. 1t will be knocking of odd
dollars, which he will think clear
gain
THAT would be hardly honest
very true. Remember, I do no
advise you to follow such a plan. i
am only telling you what kind of .
man you are dealing with
well, do not intend to cheat him
but If he likes that way l suppose
must accOmm edate him.
'On the very first bill Baker paid Il
the new tradesman he obtained o,
abatement of two dollars and ninet,
cents, which amount was purpOsel.
added, and Baker went away. flatter
ing himself that he had saved tha
much by''beating down.