Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-11-01

| give you all desired information.
ct is indeed for purchase, but
on special conditions. and l wish tc
treat only with M. Unzahl."
"Shall take your card, sir?"
The stranger handed to. the clerk q
small Bristol card of the dimensions
Of a railway ticket bearing the in,
scription:
W. j. BARKER, Esq,
81 Granville place,
Portman square, W.
M. Unzahl soon appeared and ad-
dressed Mr.. Barker: "What can |
do for you, sir?"
Excuse me for having disturbed
you, said the stranger. a perfect
gentleman, clad in one of those long
cape ulsters having squares of differ
ent colors, which the French have
adopted after having long made fun
of them. Il wish to buy n good
watch; the price is not the para
mount consideration; what l insist
on is perfectregularity.'
"Then," suggested the watch
maker, "you need q chronometer;
here is one in silver at only 1900
francs"
"No," reioined the Englishman.
although l am something of q
traveller, l am not marine officer; a
good watch will answer"
"Try this one," said the watch
maker, Offering winding
double-case watch. "For year it
has not varied a second"
Indeed" remarked W. J. Barker,
"this watch has a good look"
ut has more than q good look >"
responded M. Unzahl, with profess
sional dignity; sit is almost a per-
feet piece of mechanism, approaching
the chronometer, though without
equalling it,"
1.-THE price,"
"a thousand francs be it, but on
on one condition, and it is because of
this condition that | took the liberty
to disturb you"
What is the condition."
"That, against this check on the
Bank OF Geneva, you deliver to me a
receipt by the terms of which you en-
gage to take back the watch at the
same price of n thousand francs if
when | present it to you again in
eighteen months you find that it has
varied. On my part engage to take
due care OF it. without touching the
works, withouG even opening the
cases, | will merely wind it up every
day at the same hoSr."
"1our proposition is acceptable.
l am sure of my work and have moth
ing to fear. 1t lisa bargain. Here is
the watch"
Here's the check for 1000 francs"
"And here is the receipt" added
the maker, after he had prepared n
receipted bill, coupled with the con-
dition executed by the purchaser.
Eighteen months later, in August
1887, M. Unzahl was superintend
ing an important shipment to
South America. when who
should enter but Mr.. Barker, whom
he recognized Immediately, for the
Englishman had not grown old or
changed in any way save that, i'm
place OF the long-cape ulster of the
winter OF 1885, whose great orange
and maroon squares called to mind
the horse-coverings used in well-kept
stables, Mr.. Barker wore a full check
cred suit under n short brown over
coat, which, by the skill of his Lon
don tailor, or perhaps by the use OF
stiffening material, kept itself in
position, twining around the waist
and clinging to the chest, although
it was not buttoned.
Good day, M. Barker" said the
matchmaker in a familiar tone, tenn
pered by the respect due to a sedate
customer; you come to compliment
me about my watch?'
NO." answered the Englishman
laconically, 81 bring it back"
For cleaning?" queried the trades
man with a conciliating air. "That
does not surprise me; after a year,
certainly after eighteen months, the
oil needs renewing"
MOP retorted the Englishman
brusquely, 81 bring it back to leaveit.
This watch is worth nothing"
You astonish me very much" de-
clared the matchmaker, who from
smiling had grown serious. "You
astonish me very much, but as it
was u conditional sale | will repay
the thousand francs"
Mr.. Barker had prepared himself
for a contest, giving to his features
and his voice the maximum British