The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-28

an uptown hotel lobby the other night.
The fellow, whose name is Meyer
keeps wholesale and retail liquor store
in Pittsburgh, and does a considerable
business; but he is the meanest man to
sell to / ever came across. He handles
wines of the same character that l sell,
but | never was able to make a Gus
toner of him. If he had come out fairly
and squarely at any time and said he
didn't want to buy of me, why | would
have found no fault. Every man has
right to buy where he pleases, and his
reasons for refusing to buy of one man
or another are nobody's concern but his
own. The meannness of this man,
though, consisted in his accepting favors
from me and wasting my time, when he
always knew in advance that he would
not buy anything from me.
Il make several trips to Pittsburgh
every year, and for the past five years
l have always made it a rule to call
upon this man, being misled by his ap-
parent cordially and willingness to
talk about my wines into the belief
that he would sooner or later become
with manifestations of great pleasure,
asking insinuatingly whether | had
brought along any new stories. for he
was a wicked old cuss, and smoked my
cigars with great gusto. Every time
when | began to talk business to him,
however, it was:
I'm awful sorry, Mr.. Klein. but
can't see my way clear to using your
goods just now. Business has been
very bad, and l am overstocked as it is.
But I'll let you know as soon as l can
find a chance to try your wine, and you
may depend on it you'll get there yet.
We'll, | put up with that for two
years. / wrote to hi M and got some
very pretty replies, but never did get
an order. After that l put him down
for liar, and wasn't quite as free
about inviting him out to dinner and
loading him up with my best cigars;
but still pretended to be friendly and
to believe his stories. because his trade
IS really worth having, and thought
he might possibly change his mind.
Business is business, you know. and we
can't always say what we think. i
guess you've all been there. There is
a limit 10 endurance. though, and when
a man tries TO play me for fool the
old Adam will get up and get the bet
ter of my principles of policy.
80 it happened on my last trip to
Pittsburgh. | called on Meyer and was
greeted in the usual ELUSIVE fashion.
How are you. Mr.. Klein? I'm awfully
glad to see you. What's the latest
from the metropolis and all the rest OF
the lingo was as pat as usual He coolly /
picked cigar out of my vest pocket, |
limited that it was about lunch time, and !
was as gay and fresh as though he had |
been buying a thousand cases a year
from me. But when | asked him what I
chance there was of my booking an |
order from him he had an apology all |
ready for his inability TO patronize my |
goods just then. felt rather sore, and !
/ told him with considerable heat that |
l thought he was treatir NE very |
shabbily.
My dear Klein, he said, in very |
consoling kind of voice, 1t does look |
kind of tough, but l assure you l can't |
help it. If YOU had come two weeks (
ago l would gladly have given you an |
order, but just as my stock ran out got |
q chance to buy up big lot of bank /
rupt goods at a great bargain, and now |
I've got enough TO last me six months /
at least The next time you come III |
be right in shape
Il was convinced he was lying, but / |
smothered my anger. and after little
talk went away. About an hour later /
l ran across competitor OF mine with /
whom ! am on very good terms. He |
told ne he had been in town some days |
Whom have You seen hcre% l asked /
him. He mentioned number of names
and among them was that OF this man.
Did you do anything with him? asked.
"'XsH-' he said j sold him l>.-of