The Penn's Grove record., 1886-07-17

N
sold the picture to understand that If
the picture was not back by the next
day he would expect their sureties to
make up the deficiency. The young
men were appalled,. One thousand
four hundred pounds divided by two Is
still in excess Of what the average
young mar gets per annum in a Lon
don art store. After abusing each
other roundly for a while they began to
notice that this did not bring back the
picture. The clerk who put on the
wrong tag finally hit on a plan.
The clerk dressed up in his Holiday
suit and called on the American.
"I am the art critic of The Daily
-" he said, sand L was told you
had bought a MISSIONER. Would you
mind my looking at It'll"
mot at ALL" replied the buyer, and
he invited the alleged critic to his
rooms.
SCOT that for e100," he said. waving
his hand toward the picture.
The critic said nothing but a cynical
smile stole over his face.
whats the natter Don't you be-
lieve 1 paid the el00f"
"Oh, 1 believe you paid the G1O0."
"Well, don't. you think its worth
the money2'
IF it's a Meissonier- Yes"
'If? Why the names on the corner. y
"Yes, it usually is"
"But l bought it from Frames q Co.
Aren't they a good frm?"
'Oh. yes. If you have a certificate
from Frames & Co., signed by the
firm, that 1t is a genuine MISSIONER,
then you have a great bargain. Still,
Meissoniers are not selling in London
this season for el00."
81 haven't any certificate"
"AhIn
"Don't you believe it's a MISSIONER?
If you think it isn't, why, hang 1t, say
So"
snow, l won't say whether that is a
Meissonier or not, but / will tell you
what l would do If l were you. l would
take that picture back to Frames u
Co. l would find the person who sold
it to me, and 1 would say-quietly-I
believe it is customary &c give a certifl-
cate, signed by the firm signed by the
firm, mind-that 1t is what 1t is claimed
TO be- If the young man doesn't re-
member you the chances are that he
will admit such to be the custom.
Then produce your picture and say that
you would be obliged to have that GER
tilted a Meissonier. Don't be put off
by his word that 1t is so and so, or by
any bluff about the standing Of the
house, its reputation, and all that. In
sist on the document. If he refuses,
demand your e100, and if he refuses
that, threaten suit, and l imagine you
viii get your money"
THAT'S business" said the Ameri-
can. "Come with me, will your"
"Now," said the critic when they
were In the hanson, "I don't care to
appear in this matter. Frames is a
good fellow personally and always
claims that it is his rascaily clerks that
make these little mistakes. I'll stay III
the Ransom whlla you go inside"
When Dives, with the picture under
his arm, came in and recognized and
was recognized by the clerk who sold
it to him, the latter became pale with
excitement, and almost tainted with
the fear that he would not act his part
as we'll as the other fellow had evident
ly acted his.
II see you know me,n cried the pur-
chaser, "and probably you know why
I've come back"
Haven't the slightest idea. 'pon my
soul l haven't" said the clerk with his
teeth chattering.
"Oh, yes, you have. l can sec you
have. Now" placing the picture on
the easel with the wrapping removed
and shaking his finger at it, ''you said
that was a Meia5onier. All right. l
want a written certificate to that effect"
81 beg pardon, but 1t isn't usual to
give that"
~ happen to know that it is"
"Only in exceptional cases, SIR"
"Well, this is IN exceptional case"
VERY sorry, sir, but we can't do it
in this instance.n
well, SIT, III tell you what you
can do, sir. What you must do, sir.
You give me back lay !el00. and be
darned quick about it, do you hearP"
When the American came back to
the hanson he said:
"See that?" showing the crisp bank
notes, 81 got back my el00."
THANK God," said the critic de-
voutly, and doubtless the American
wonders to this day why a stranger
took such intense interest in keeping
him from being cheated.