The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1889-08-10
SECOND HAND BOOKS.
Romanccs and Windfalls In tho Business.
One Dealers Lucky Find.

One Dealers Lucky Find.
EYES," said Montague street dealer in
second hand b,oks, my trade is more or less
of a queer ore, as you say. Money in it'll
Now, you ought to know that there is money
in any business, provided one can obtain
enough custom. suppose man might make
q fortune out of gorilla skins if the demand
existed and he could obtain the wherewithal
to supply the want"
"But you often make very lucky bargains
or finds don't you'" said the reporter
"Windfalls are among tho rare things of
life, replied the book dealer, philosophically,
land the fortunate happenings of my b,lsi-
ness show no deviation from tho rule Still
have had slices of good fortune, undeniably
so. Want to hear about some of them'
Well, here's one of recent date
"Three weeks back | bought some 200 or
800 odd books from resident OH Remsen
street who was clearing out his library pre-.
paratory to shutting up his house for the
summer. On looking over tho lot after tho
purchase found Il small volume of 'rhon,-
sons Seasons 1t was an edition published
by Il New York firm in 1856 and was bound
In faded pink cloth and gold Casually rum
ming my eye over its pages noted tho fact
that number of the words had underneath
them tiny brownish red speck. Half ill
stinctively strung into a sentence or part of
sentence, some half dozen of the marked
words, and found that they formed portion
of what was evidently a love message My
curiosity was excited, and l picked up the
rest of the distinguished words. Altogether
they made lengthy and particularly cfu-
sive tale of affection emanating from tho
donor of the book, whose name appeared on
the ilylcaf. Throwing tho book OH an upper
shelf, thought no more of the matter, and
went to New York to fulfill an engagement
"On my return later i'll the day note was
handed to mo from tho whilom owner of tho
book. 1t was to tho effect that tho 'Thom-
sons Seasons had been given with tho rest
of tho books by mistake, that it was valued
relic, and that i'll the event of its having been
sold was commissioned to repurchase it at
any price. The amy price was undcrscored
need not say that the book was returned
My boy, who took the book back, came home
to me with II note of thanks, i'll which was
enclosed $50 bill. | afterwari learned that
the book was portion of all exceedingly pa
thctic romance, the shadow of which had
cast u gloom over tho entire life of the gen-
tleman i'll question.
NEARLY n year back tho library of lie
ceased collector who hud resided OH the
Heights camo under tho hammer. 1t was
sold by tn" heir of the property, who, while
he inherited his fathers money, did not share
in Tia old gentlcmans literary tastes Some
fifty or sixty of the more valuable book.
came into my hands, among them hcins /;
largr and profuscly illustrated Saints Rest
On the broad margin on tho top of the firs
pas, was written in bold characters, 'Wh,
uses this book will find his reward Glanc
ing over tho volume ! noted tho fact thai
ono of the fly leaves was missing and that til.
inner side of the first cover was of the same
paper as the remaining fly leaf, and that il
was much softer to the touch tlan mere card
board.
10 one who is accustomed TO handle book:
rs ! am, it was not hard to instantly tlivin.
that tho llylcaf which was wanting had bccl
pasted down OH the cover, and over som,
foreign body \ Aclosccxaminationc confirms.
my suspicion. Well, to shorten tho story,
used steam: the lylcaf was raised, and thcr,
carefully and snl.ly arranged underneath
We're livo so bills. Tho meaning of tho in
scription on the interior tlylcaf was now plain
notified the h"r, but he, in the first flush o
the enjoyment Of Il big fortune, replied tina
the book was my purchase, and consequent,
the mony was mine. didn't attempt t.
dispute tho point. ."-Broohlyn Times.