River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-10-20

"Ifs made to look like the finest oil
silk" he said, ''but the great body OF
the cloth is cotton. / never saw any
thing like it before" he continued, as
he drew out thread and ran it be-
tween the nails of his thumb and fore
finger, thereby stripping off the fossy
silken covering from thread of stout
cotton.
"No; it's new thing. l got it in New
York. Sold piece this afternoon-fif-
teen yards-for nine shillings a var
Ha, ha, hal
mime shillings p repeated Arthur, in
renewed surprise. "Why the stuff is
not worth rs cents"
"Bless your body, | only paid ~ cents
for it. Got it at auction. It's a new
thing. Only think-off from fifteen
yards / made profit of Sl6.20.
"But the one to whom you sold 1t
must have thought it all silk"
"Of course she did. You don't
think she'd have paid that price If she
had not? But mind, tell you this in
confidence. You are one of the trade,
you know, and of course up to such
things"
Arthur Leeman was not sup TO such
things" but then he had not manly in
dependence enough to say so. A new
idea was working its way darkly
through his mind.
"You didn't, of course, tell her it
was really silk-pure silk?" he said half
30, no" said sharping with know
! ing nod. "Let me alone for that. She
wanted something rich for a dress-I
| took down that-'There', said /, look
at that-just what you want-splendid
article-just examine it for yourself.
'What do you ask" said she. Two
dollars, said /, Too high she SAID.
! But, my dear madame, look at i'll
must make myself whole She begged
and / groaned about the ruinous plan
of selling below cost. But at last she
hit upon nine shillings. 'Ruinous,
said /; but if you won't mention tiff
| you'll promise not to tell of 1t, why
seeing it's you--you may take it"
She promised, and-took it. Ha, ha,
hal"
Sixteen dollars and twenty cents, y
muttered Arthur, aloud.
GAY, a good round profit" added
| Sharping. "But then we must do it.
Must live, you know; and we might as
well have their money as anybody.
They've got it to spare, else they
wouldn't spend it,"
| When Leeman returned to his home,
he fancied he had learned how William
Sharping made his money, and half of
| that night he lay awake and thought
of it.
| The next morning he walked very
| slowly toward his store. He was still
thinking of what he had learned the
night before, and he was trying hard to
silence the ''still, small voice" that was
whispering to his soul,
"It's only business, after all, he said
to himself. 81 may as well get living
as other folks"
1t was with these words upon his lips
that he entered his store.
His clerk was there, and the place
was clean and neat. He had been in
the store half an hour, and at the end
of that time his clerk asked him if he
was unwell.
"Unwell! What put that into your
head, Henry"
"O-I thought you looked flushed
feverish / didn't know but that you
might have caught cold"
mo, no; | am WELL"
Arthur Leeman turned away, and
wondered if he had been showing all
his feelings.
Somehow the store did not seem so
cheerful to him as usual. The neatly
arranged shelves and boxes, and the
choice goods did not look so inviting as
was their wont.
During the first part of the day he
sold some common articles, such as
calicos, lawns, thread, etc, but it did
not occur to him that even here he
might have over-reached single Gus
toner. He did not think of getting
123 cents for some of his six-penny
prints. Sharping did it, but Leeman
was not yet initiated.
At length an opportunity was afford
ed for Arthur to try his newly-discov-
cred plan of business.
Toward night middle-aged gentle
man entered the store and expressed a
wish to purchase some cloth for a pair
of pants. He was stranger, having
but a few days before moved into the
village.
II should like piece that is good
all wool thick and firm," he said, as
Arthur led the way to the cloth coun-
ter.
The gentleman looked over the
goods, and at length his eye hit upon
piece of dark, mixed doeskin. 1t
felt firm, and was, in truth, handsome
piece.
GLOW is that?" asked Arthur.
II think it will suit me. 1t seems to
be firm and good. Not quite so soft as
clear wool generally is"
sit is an excellent cloth-a few days
wear will soften it," said the young
merchant, trying to appear candid.
"What is it a yard?"
Now the cloth cost Arthur just 373
cents per yard, and he had intended to
sell it for AZ, and he placed his private
mark upon it accordingly. 1t was just
half cotton.
cone dollar" said he.
And the words, as he spoke them,
struck startlingly upon his own ear.
'FYou may cut me off three yards, r"
said the man; and Arthur hid his face
as he did the work.
After the cloth was done up, the gen.
tleman paid for it, SIT was nearly 81
more than it costa clear profit of al
most 200 per cent.
Arthur Leeman had always made 1t
a practice to be sociable with those
with whom he traded.
1t was five-dollar bill the gentleman
rendered in payment, and as he passed
/ - o,-o,- n ra1,oarlyaH
81 suppose that is the lowest you
will take?"
sit is the lowest | ought to take, "
said Arthur, trying to hide his tremu-
lousness, for he had done something
he knew to be wrong,
every WELL" said the stranger; 81
| always wish to pay 81 fair living price
to every one with whom l deal, always
trusting" he added, with a smile, "that
| shall be treated honestly in return"
He took his change and left the store.
Arthur took down his blotter and
thought to enter the sale he had just
made; but he hesitated. Those pages
were all fair and honest. He dared not
place there the first record of the first
dishonest act he had ever done Oh,
how he wished that mis- customer had
not come How he wished he could
recall the thing he had done But it
was too late He had tried the expert