Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1881-12-29
Selling a Watcn.

fellow gets so that he can tell whether
a man wants to buy anything, or wheth-
er he merely comes in to 'gawp' around
the show eases. Now there's man
coming in to whom you couldn't sell
silver dollars at fifty cents apiece.
The stranger carried black leather
valise with the glazing worn off at the
corners. and, thoughrespectably dressed,
there was a shiny appearance to the
sleeves of his coat that indicated long
forgotten tailor. He looked longingly
AT the yellow watches, but finally, and
with evident reluctance, moved along
down the showcase, past the hunting
cased silver watches to where the cheap
open faced ones were displayed. Here
he paused. and commenced scrutinizing
them As if computing their probable
values. and how much his pocketbook
would have to shrink to effect Il pur-
chase.
Hanged if don't think the snoozer
wants a white SUPERB exclaimed the
auctioneer in low tone as he darted
around behind the counter and assumed
his professional smile and voice.
wish to buy watch this morning,
STRIP
Il would if could afford it
Anybody can afford to buy these
watches. II is actually cheaper for a
man TO buy one of them than to 20
without You don't believe it? I'll
prove it to You. The other day n fell
low who was going out into the country
Tor a few days came in here and bought
one of these solid filed hunting-cased,
stem-winding and stem-puShing. thir
teen-jeweled. Howard movement
watches of me for fourteen dollars"
Fourteen dollarsr' exclaimed the
stranger. in a tone of surprise, now re-
garding the yellow fraud with new in
terest.
Yes, fourteen dollars. That's all
they cost. He was only gone three
DAYS. during which time he became en-
gagged to marry girl worth forty thou
sand dollars. and when he came back
he had snapped that watch off for a
four-year-old colt that he sold for eighty
five dollars. He came right in here and
got three more of the watches. and has
gone out into the country TO swap them
bAl Nllll slii plb III pun VI bstN
mares, six years old. that can trot better
than 2:40 in double harness. Expect
him back to-day
He did very wrong" said the
stranger, sententiously.
Ell, Oh, of course, Certainly. / told
him so. Told him he ought to tell the
farmers that they could get the watches
here of me for fourteen dollars. but he
is one of those wild, specializing fellows,
have one of them, sir?"
The strangers right hand started
toward his pocket, hesitated moment,
AMI then drew forth well-worn but
very corpulent wallet. Yes, I'll take
one" said he. hesitatingly. You see,
am going up into the Lake Superior
country 10 preach among the lumber
camps this winter, and watch will be
4 good deal of company for me" rs
he laid down his money on the counter.
4" Are YOU preacher inquired the
with a look of surprise on
his face.
A very unworthy one" was the
meek reply.
why in blazes didn't you say so.
then, ! always sell cheaper to preach
ers. That watch only cost me Sll.2j.
and You can have it at cost. Yes. con
found it, for so, and here's chain
into the bargain Now cit outn' as the
stranger began uttering thanks.
After he was well outside the door,
the auctioneer explained: I'D rather
a-given $40 than have that fellow buy
that watch. | never cheated 4 par>on
before. Confound it, | won't be able
to sleep all night. How he did take me
in Who'd thought he was parson?
Hanged if | didn't think he was either
an out-and-out seed or a green police
man playing detective. Well!'' with
little nervous laugh, Ii he breaches by
that watch, he'll be tried for hetero-