The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20

was returning home from his business
ne had occasion TO pass his neighbour
store, and as he saw the light gleamin,
through the chinks in the shutters, h,
thought he would enter. Sharping wa
there alone, and he had Just closed hi
ledger. ~
I cha, Leeman, how are you? How
business?" cried Sharping with the ali
Of . man who is we'll pleased with him
self. ~, ''
| 20, SO So" returned Arthur, reaching
over, the counter to shake hands. og.
10 Tive done capitally to-day resumes
Shsrping. "a profit Of $5S. 49,"
mot clear net profit?" said Arthur
opening his eyes. rsso5 tsdi ata }.
.it'Yes--clear profit. Ha, ha, ha 7
And as the young merchant thu,
laughed to himself, he leaped over tn,
counter and rubbed his hands exult
ingly. i9ag aesd 3.g gaii4s
but I don't see how you did it, ut
tered Arthur, in tone of nervous visit
fulness.. ~
cha, liza, haf What fools there are
in this world, Leeman. Just look here,
ratified the successful merchant, as hi
leaped over the counter and pulled 8
piece Of goods from one of the shelves
a"There-.what do you callthat ?"
Laeman carefully examined the article
with the air of one who understands
his business.
a"Its made to look like the finest O
| silk, !" he said, 'ibut 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 hossy
silken covering from thread of stout
cotton.
mo; it's new thing. I gotit in New
York. Sold piece this afternoon-ff.
teen yards-for nine shillings a yard.
Ha, ha, hap'
"Nine shillings!" repeated Arthur, in
renewed surprise. "Why the stuff is
not worth rs cents" r wi
"Bless your body, / only paid AZ cents
for it. Got it at auction. It's a new
thing. Only think-of from fifteen
yards I made a profit of $500.
u" 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, l tell you this in
confidence. You are one of the trade,
you know, and of course up to such
things" il ia @ y
Arthur Leeman was not cup to such
things" but then he had not manly in
dependence enough to say 80. A new
idea was working its way darkly
through his mind. 90
"You didn't, of course, tell her it
was really silk--pure silk?' he said half
'Aa e, nc' said snarping with 4 know
ing nod. "Let me alone for that. She
wanted something rich for a dress-I
took down that--'There', said I, look
at that-iust what you splendid
article-just examine it for YOURSELF
"What do you asks? said she. Two
dollars, said I, TOO high she SAID.
But, my dear madame, look at it
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 you--you may take it."
She promised, and-took it. Ha, ha,
hal"
Sixteen dollars and twenty cents"
Arthur, aloud. lf
SAY, a good round profit" added
sharping. "but then we must do it.
Must live, you know; and we might as
we'll 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 t'still, small voice" that. was
whispering to his soul,
It's only business, after all, = he said
to himself. 81 may as well get a living
as other folks" 4 M &
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 unwel. 4, g efifa st
"Unwelll What put that into your
head, Henry?"s es ser
"O-I thought you looked flushed
feverish. didn't know but that you
might have caught cold"
mo, no; l am we'll"
1 Arthur Leeman turned away, and
wondered if he had been showing all
his feelings.
Somehow the store did not seem 30
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-reaclied single Gus
TONER. He did not think Of getting
I124 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 .diecov-
cred plan of business.
i Tnv,ov ~ ,ssuht s111n n.,oI