Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-10-14

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 the air of one who understands
his business.
'.It's made to look like the finest of
silk" he said, 'fbut the great body of
the cloth is cotton. / never saw any
thing like it before" he continued, as
he drew out a thread and ran it be-
tween the nails of his thumb and fore
finger, thereby stripping off the fiossy
silken covering from thread of stout
cotton.
mo; it's new thing. got it in New
York. Sold piece this afternoon-ff-
teen yards-for nine shillings a yard.
Ha, ha, ha p
mine shillings :" repeated Arthur, in
renewed surprise. "Why the stuff is
not worth 70 cents"
"Bless your body, only paid AZ cents
for it. Got it at auction. It's new
thing. Only think-off from fifteen
yards made profit of 1920.
'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
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 silkg'' he said half
carelessly.
20, no, said sharping with know
ing nod. "Let me alone for that She
wanted something rich Tor 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 til
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 it, why
seeing it's vou-you may take it"
She promised, and took il. Ha, ha,
ham
Sixteen dollars and twenty cents,
muttered Arthur, aloud.
GAY, 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 ii.
The next morning he walked very
slowly toward his store. He was still
thinking Of what lie had learned the
night before, and he was trying hard to
silence the "still, small voice" that was
whispering to his soul,
Its only business, after all, y he said
TO himself. Il may as well get living
~ 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 i'll
the store half an hour, and nj the end
Of that time his clerk asked him if he
was unwcll.
"Gnwell! What put that into your
head, Henry"
"O-l thought you looked flushed
feverish. | didn't know but that you
might have caught cold"
"No, 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 50 inviting as
was their won't
During the first part of the day he
sold some common articles, such MS
calieos, lawns, thread, etc, but il did
not occur to him that even here he
might have over-reachcd i single Gus
toner. He did not think OF getting
12I cents for some of his six-penny
prints. Sharping did il, but Leeman
was not yet initiated.
At length an opportunity was afford
ed for Arthur to try his newly-dlscoy-
cred plan Of business.
Toward night 4 middle-aged gentle
man entered the store and expressed
wish to purchase some cloth for pair
If pants. He was stranger, having
but Il few days before moved into the
village
Il should like piece that is good
all wool thick and firm he said, rs
Arthur led the way e. the cloth coun-
ter
The gentleman looked over the
goods, and at length his eye hit upon
u piece of dark, mixed doeskin. 1t
felt firm, and was, in truth, u handsome
piece.
"Eiow is that asked Arthur.
Il think it will suit me. 1t seems To
hc firm and good. Not quite 50 soft rs
clear wool generally Is"
1T is an excellent clotha few days
wear will soften it, said the young
merchant, trying to appear candid.
What is il II YARD
Now the cloth cost Arthur Just 314
cents per yard, and he had intended to
sell il for II, and lie placed his private
mark upon it accordingly 1t was just
half cotton.
cone dollar said he.
And the words, rs he spoke them,
struck startlingly upon his own ear.
You may cut me off three yards, "
said the man; and Arthur hid his face
Is he did the work
After the cloth was done up, the gen
tleman paid for it, So lit was nearly -
more than it costa clear profit of al
most 200 per cent
Arthur Leeman had always made il
a practice to be sociable with those
with whom he traded
II was tive-dollar bill the gentleman
rendered III payment, and as he passed
il over he remarked;
4 suppose that is the lowest you
will take2"
1t i the lowest | ought to take,
SAID Arthur, trying to hide his tremu-
lousness, for he had done something
he knew to he wrong
Very well, said the stranger; Il
always wish to pay a fair living price
to every one with whom | deal. always
trusting he added, with a smile, that
| shall he treated honestly in return.
He took his change and left the store.
Arthur took down his blotter and
thoaght to enter the sale he had Just
made: but he hesitated. Those pages