The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-04-20

Mr. Astor asked.
Nothing else" I said in an Indifferent
way, "but," added, 81 might take just
few etters if could buy them right" 1
knew Aston was loaded with them.
''Oh, otters9 Well, has lot, a big
lot, but 1 amt willing to divide them.
There may be as many as 1000. Too
big for you to handle, my boy"
''They are very dull of sale, and l
would be most afraid to take anything
like such big lot. You wouldn't divide
the lot in two, would you, Mr.. Astor9"
''In two, what, halve theme That's a
fair lot, anyhow"
Eyes, it's a big lot seeing how slow
they are of SALE"
"Slow2 Suppose if they are slow, and
you didn't know what to do with them,
would you buy them2 See, here if you
want half the lot you will have to pay
more for them. My price is for the whole
of them three dollars skin; if you divide
them it will be quarter OF dollar
more. Now, young man, am busy. It's
too big a line for you. The clerk will
make out your bill"
81 think 1 would like to look at the
run of the SKINS" said.
swell, then, all right; my porter will
sort them, and call here tomorrow; and
you can see how they turn out" said Mr..
Astor. Now, to have delayed the pur-
chase day or two more would never
have answered. A London packet might
come in that afternoon, and next morn
ing the news of rise in the fur market
might have prevented my buying the furs
at my figures.
81 cannot conveniently wait over to-
day. must be off for Philadelphia by
noon tomorrow. If you will give me
couple of men | will examine these skins
myself"
"Why, my boy, it will be night before
we are through, and the sun goes down
early now. All right, though; will give
you two men. The skins are up stairs,
and you can work on them-you say 6
o'clock I will be hear, and you will
say yes or no."
At work 1 went, and, getting through
the examination as fast as could-by 6
o'clock-had only half assorted the otter
skins.
At 6 o'clock punctually, Mr.. Astor
came up stairs.
81 am not half through" said. "Mr.
Astor, now, from what I have seen, l
should make the run of the skins pretty
much as follows: twenty-five per cent.
prime skins, 40 per cent. seconds, 30 per
cent. thirds, and the remainder damaged"
"No," said Mr.. Aston; "there are some
bales you haven't looked through which
belongs to the lot, which would make the
poor skins something like 20 per cent.
But, as you want to divide, I'll make up
fair average. You are good worker.
l likes to see young people work; but
want my supper-what do you say? You
takes $500 skins at So So" The skins
were cheap at that, and within my limit.
Now, for a good stroke of business,
thought to myself.
IL will tell you what will do, sir; l
will give you two dollars and three quar-
tiers for the whole lot"
$50! so my boy, with fifteen hundred
dollars of beaver and all them offers,
that makes most twenty thousand dol
lars"
''And at four months credit" added
"Four months credit and most twenty
thousand dollars. So! You 60 fast for
me square in the face. "You are mar
riedl" he asked.
Eyes, Mr.. Astor," replied with a
smile.
"Babics9"
Eyes, sir-twO."
"Any more expected!"
IL am sure don't know" answered,
rather losing patience.
"a big family for young man. You
spend ell you maker"
mo, SIR"
"Wife wear fedders in her hat, big
sleeves, give barties2"
''Yes, sir, she wears feathers when they |
are in the fashion, and gives party
when she thinks her husband can afford
it."
$50! l did business with your fadder
many years ago. He was an honest man.
1t is "a risk. Two seventy-fve for lot of
skins worth three dollars! You wait now"
and he took bit of chalk and made some
figures on the lid of black desk. l re-
member his figures to this day. "Young
man." said Mr.. Aston, 'you say two dol
lars and eighty cents, and you promise
me your wort of honor that you never
tells nobody that John Jacob Aston was
fool enough to trust young mana boy,
though he has two babies-with twenty
thousand dollars worth of goods"
That speech of the old man made me
mad. II don't want your goods, Mr. As
tor" l said, II don't want ANYBODY to
sell me goods as favor"
what you show your temper because
| put five cents more on the skins9 Here.