Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-01-19
WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK,



How Two Yankees Tried to Beat Each
Other in Trade.
sWhen two Yankees try to get the
best of each other in trade something
interesting is sure to happen" said
Boston drummer coming down on one
of the sound boats the other night. ~
have heard lot of stories of this ma
ture since I've been on the road, but
none that quite equals this little tale
which l am about to tell. One of the
principals was dealer in musical in
struments, the other an aged farmer
1t appears that this old farmer, who
was wealthy, had had considerable
trouble with his relatives. They had
endeavored to get conservator APP.
pointed over him. He fought them
through the courts, however, and beat
them. His principal witnesses were
the minister and his wife. They testi.
fed that the old man was of sound
mind and perfectly capable of taking
care of his own affairs.
''This so tickled the old man that he
wanted to show his appreciation in
some way. He heard that the minis
ter's wife had long desired a piano, but
couldn't afford to buy one. So he went
to her and proposed that he would adj
vance the price required and she could
repay him in installments at heruleis-
ure
"They visited tn, dealer in musical
instruments the following day The
old man told the dealer that he didn't
want to pay for the piano for three
weeks. He explained that his money
was in the savings bank, and that the
semi-annual dividend was due in that
time. If he drew the 1925 required out
! of the bank he would lose $3.50 interest
money, he said
NOW, the music man knew of the
old farmers trouble with his relatives.
He also realized that the farmer was
likely to die almost any time, and con,
Guided that the trade ought to be made
on a cash basis. Still, he didn't want
| to offend the old gentleman, so he
promised to deliver the piano the fol.
lowing day.
after the old farmer had left thu
store the music man set his Yankee
wit in motion. Then he went around
to the bank where the old gentleman
kept his account and took one of thu
officials into his confidence. His
scheme was to advance the old farmer
the interest on the two hundred and
twenty-five dollars, get a check from
him and let the money remain in the
bank until dividend day, thereby get
ting the four dollars and half back.
The music man and the banker both
thought it very brilliant scheme, and
on the following day the music man
drove out to the farmers place with the
piano. He told the old gentleman that
he needed the money, and that he
would be willing to advance the inter-
est if the old gentleman would give
him check. The old farmer agreed to
do this with a suddenness that sur
prised the music man but which failed
to raise his suspicious.
THE check was made out and the
music man drove home with a pretty
good idea of himself. The following
day he took the check to the bank. The
banker asked where the bank book
was, it being a cast-iron rule of the in.
stitution that no money would be paid
without book. The music man said
he had forgotten to ask the old farmer
for it, but confidently added he would
drop him line
"Well, he did So Day after day
passed. however, and the music man
heard nothing. He was losing just d
little of his confidence when one after
noon the old farmer entered his store.
"'I got your note the old farmer
said but | didn't have anything tc
come to town for before dividend day,
SO thought I'd wait until then. Left
the book around at the bank. Thought
you'd prefer TO have me bring the
money around to you. Here it is
two hundred and twenty-five dollars.
1.-The music man took the money ant
thought of the four dollars and fifty
cents which he had advanced ant
the four dollars and fifty cents which
the old farmer had just raked off a
the bank in addition, but he didn'
mention it.
i "But the amusing part of it all t.
me-" added the drummer, SIS that tn,
music man won't admit that the ole
farmer was sharper than he was, Ii
telling me the story he said in an off
, hand way. of course the funny part o
: it is that the old man didn't know h,
was doing me. 1t was purely acci
dental, you know "-N. Y. Herald.
IF i,,l