The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-04
THE MAGNETIC H1MMER.
A Travellers Tale OF an Uncommon Episode In
n Country store.

n Country store.
STANDING one day in n country store said
n traveller. II saw drive up n travelling dealer
who carried his stock with him. his turnout be,
ing of n kind moro commonly seen years ago
than now. In these days OF easier railroad com
munication and moro freuuent
The wagon was big and heavy, but the body hung
gracefully on platform springs. the rear hang
ing a little lower than the forward end. The
running part WIS stout hut we'll designed and
finished. The body of the wagon was like a
long. deep boz. the top beng fixed and pe-ma-
nent. For II space OF perhaps three feet for
gard from the rear end ut the body was built up
n little higher. with "a vertical lace AT the front.
down to the roof; II was rs though the rear
end Of the wagon had been carried up Il low
story higher. than the rest. Midway between
the face OF this higher rear part aud the driv-
er's seat There was another higher section eX-
tending across the roof from side 10 side. but
The sides OF tho wagon body were panelled
Oft. The inOuldinGs marked the spaces into
which the interior was divided. and access to
he compartments was had BY doors in the sides
and the end. Tie seat Mt the FOR ward end OF
the wagon was capactous and comfortable. and
there was over IL II substantial leather ton that
would keep out any weather. Attached TO this
wa-on there was a pair OF big, good.looking
lake IL al together the outfit had nm air OF
solidity. combined with no small degree OF
raki7nness; IL wnS an outnt sn III as any man
Il don't remember what he was selling. but
II was. something packed IN boxes; He brought
In u sample he was n rather tall man, with n
beard. win a gOUd-humored eye, and q quiet
manner. and the merchant bought some. Then
he went ont TO his wagon again. and BROUGHT
in the goods. and he brought with him u card
loard placard which evidently he intended TO
put ~ in the store.
Rising In the centre OF the store was u lnrge.
square. wooden pillar supporting overhead n
big cross beam upon which. | suppose. tn , in
ner ends Of the floor beams rested. hen lie had
hid the goods dowh on the counter he picked
up tho card thnt he hnd brought in with them
and turned toward the square pillar In the CEN
ire Of the store; he had located IL when he came
In. or | guess he knew II: he and the store.
keeper didn't talk very much. but l thought
they seemed to know cach other; no doubt
he had been there before.
The big. square lost WAS covered with just
such cards MS. he had brought In. tackled on all
over, all around as htSn ns . man could reach.
his card In; but he wnlHcd over to the post just
as though liierc was plenty of room there. ie
.Ook IL paper OF tGCKs out Of his POCKET ana silt
ed out four into the palm OF his lrft hand and
then put them into his mouth. Then he
placed his placarG against the side o. the post.
and pushed IL NJ uht;l the bottom OF IL was
clear OF the top or the nigh"st card OH that
side. lie could do this because he was pretty
NJ the bottom: b,t ! couldn't SEQ vet how he
VAS going to rcacll W. to tack il nj the ton.
"liut he truod It M on the face OF thn post
with both hands Crlmlv. aud then. holding il
with ono hand hc reached into his Out-lde
coat pocket for his hammer. II was Just u
small tack hammer with rather II long handle.
He cnrrIrd the hraG. al Che hammer up to Its
mouth. and when llo withdrew 1t there was II
tack sticking to the face or 1t. Tho head OF
the hulnUIcr was magnetlHcd. and the smooth.
Hat ton of tie head o: tho tack stuck to It's face.
Iae point projecting in lin" with the hammers
head. All ln had % do was to reach up. with
II single Tap he drove the tack through tina card
atone corncr away M nj he top easily. then ho
drove a tact. through the otter upper corner
in the S4me manner. and llcn he drove In
hammer In his pocNct. Then he went out and
got on his MACON and drnvc OIL"