The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-11-29

night he told his wife he would exert |
himself to outstrip his nelghbor.
A few evenings after that, as Arthur
was returning home from his business
he had occasion to pass his neighbours
store, and as he saw light cleaning
through the chinks of his shutters, he
thought he would enter. Sharping was
there alone, and he had just closed his
ledger.
"Ha, Leeman, how are youY How's
business :" cried Sharping with the air
of man who is we'll pleased with him.
self.
80, so, so" returned Arthur, reaching
over the counter to shake hands.
1--WE done capitally to-day" resumed
Sharping. IA profit of fifty.eight dol
lars and thirty-tbree cents"
mot clear net profit Y'' said Arthur,
opening his eyes.
"Yes-clear profit. Ha, ha, hal" and
the young merchant thus laughed to
himself as he leaped over the counter
and rubbed his hands exultingly.
"But L don't see how you did it," said
Arthur, in tone of anxious wistful-
ness.
"Ha, ha, hal What fools there are in
this world, Leeman. Just look here"
ratified the successful merchant, as he
leaped over the counter and pulled
piece of goods from one of the shelves
"There-what do you call that ?"
Leeman carefully examined the article
with an air of one who understands his
business.
"It's made to look like the finest silk"
he said, 'but the great body of cloth is
cotton. l never saw anything like it be-
FORE" he continued as he drew out
thread and ran it between the nails of
his thumb and fore finger, thereby strip
ping off the flossy silken covering from
stout thread of cotton.
"No, it's new thing. l got it in
New York. Sold piece this afternoon
fifteen yards-for nine shillings yard.
Ha, ha, ha ~
mine shillings!" repeated Arthur,
in renewed surprise. "Why the stuff is
not worth seventy-fve cents"
"Bless your body, only paid forty
two cents for it. Got it at auction. It's
new thing. Only think of it-off
from fifteen yards L made profit of six
teen dollars and twenty cents"
"But the one to whom you sold it
must have thought it all silk"
"Of course she did You don't think
she'd have paid that price if she hadn't? I?
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 the manly
independence to say so. A new idea was
working its way darkly through his
mind.
a You didn't of course tell her it was
really silk-pure silk ?" he said half
carelessly.
sob, mol" said Sharping, with a
knowing nod. "Let me alone for that.
She wanted something rich for dress
1 took down that. There" said j
''look at that-just examine what you
want - splendid article = examine for
yourself" What do you ask ~ she said.
1.-TWO dollars,' said /. "Too high,'
said she. "But my dear madam, look
at It'll must make myself whole" She
begged, 1 groaned about the ruinous
plan of selling below cost But at last
she hit upon nine shillings. "Ruinous, .
said 1 "but if you-if you won't men.
ton tiff you'll promise not to tell o
it-seeing it's you-you may take it.
She promised and-took it. Ha, ha
hal"
"Sixteen dollars and twenty cents,
muttered Arthur aloud.
CAY, good round profit" added
Sharping. but then we must do it
must live, you know; and we might az
well have their money as anybody
They've got it to spare, else they woulC
not spend it.
When Leeman returned to his hom,
he fancied he had learned something
He had, in fact, learned how William
Sharping made his money, and half o
that night he lay awake and thought o
it.
The next morning he walked very
slowly toward his store. He was still
thinking of what he had learned tn
night before, and was trying hard t
silence the ''still small voice. that wa
whispering to his soul.
sits only business after ALL" he sal,
to himself 81 may as well get livin
as other folks.o