Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1882-01-11
Selling a Watch.

: slddhlHS up mere alu SclllnH SDOus
hour after hour aud day after day
rs | do, u fellow gets so that he can
tell whether "a man wants to buy
anything, or Whether he merely
comes in To 'gawp' around the show
case. Now TIERS u man coming IN
To whom you couldn't sell silver dol
lars AT fifty cents apiece.
The stranger carried Il black
leather valSe with the glazing worn
of at the corners, and. though re-
specially dressed, there was a shiny
appearance To the sleeves of his
coat that Indicated long forgotten
tailor. He looked longiugly ut the
/ yellow watches, but finally. aud
with evident reluctance, moved
along down the show case, past the
hunting caScd silver watches to
where til" cheap opcp faced ones
were displayed. Here he paused,
and commenced ScruiiuiZing them
as II computing their probable
values, and how much his pocket
book would have To shrink To effect
purchase.
Hanged if | don't think the
snOozcr wants a white super OK.
claimed the auctionrcr in Il low tone
rs he dartcd around behind the
counter and assumed his profession
nj smile and voice.
"WiSh To buy II watch this morn
ing, SIR
IL would it | could afford it,"
"AnN body can afford To buy these
watches. II is actually cheaper for
man to buy one ofthcm than to 20
without. You don't believe it, I'll
prove it To you. The other day a
fellow who was going out into the
country for "a few days came in here
oud bought one of these solid filled
hunting caScd, stem winding aud
stcm.pushing. thirteen icwclcd,
Howard movement watches of me
for fourteen dollars"
"Fonrtcen dollars" exclaimed the
stranger, in tone of surprise, now
regarding the yellow fraud with
new interest.
"(cs, fourteen dollars. That's all
they cost. He was only gone three
days, during which time he became
engaged TO marry Il Girl worth forty
thousand dollars. and when he
came back he had snapped that
watch oil for Il four year old col,
that he sold for righty.fvc dollars.
He came right in here and got three
more at the watches, and has gone
out INTO the country to swap them
on with an old i'rrmcr for pair OF
bay mares. six Years old, that can
. trot better than 2:40 in double har.
ness. Expect him back To day"
"llc did very wrong" said the
stranger, Sentcntiously.
Eth, Oh. o! course. Certainly, |
/ told him 81. Told him he Ought to
tell the farmers that they could get
the watches here oi me for fourteen
dollars, but he is one of those Wild,
specializing fellows, and couldn't
control him. VIII you have one OF
them, sii!"
The strangers right hand started
toward his pocket, hrStatpd IA mo
mcnt, and then drew tolth well
worn but very corpulcnt wallet.
"lcS, I'll take one" sand he, hest
tatingly. "lou see, am going up
into the Lake Superior country Ia
preach among the lumber camps
this winter, and u watch will I've a
good deal of company for me, rs he
laid down his money on the counter.
"Are you preacher" inquired
the auctiOncer, with u look of sur.
prise on his face.
"a very unworthy one" was the
meek reply.
"Why In blazes didn't you say so,
then! | always sell cheaper to
preachers. That watch only cost
me sl1.25, and YOU can have it at
cost. Yes, contound it, for $40, and
here's chain into tho bargain.
Now git out!' as the stranger began
nttering thanks.
After lie was well outside the
door, the auctioneer explained: sd
rather agiven $40 than have that
fellow buy that watch. never
cheated parson before. Confound
III won't be able to sleep all night.
How he did take in. Who'd a
thought he was a parsonl Hanged
II didn't think he was either an
out and out seed or a green police.