The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-01-11
THE MAGNETIC HAMMER.
a Travelcr'e Tale of sn Uncommon Eps
sode In :. Country Store.

~
store,' said q traveller, Il saw drive
up a travelling dealer who carried
his stock with him, his turnout be-
ing of kind more commonly seen
years ago than now, in these days
of easier railroad communication
and more frequent drummers. The
wagon IVES big and heavy, but the
body hur" gracefully on platform
springs, the rear hanging a little
lower than the forward end. The
running part was stout, but we'll de-
signed ard finished Tie body Of
the wagon was like Il long, deep box,
the top Icing fAod end elmanent.
For a space Of perhaps three feet
forward from the rear end the
body was built up a little higher,
with We, tioal face at the front,
down to tie roof 1t was as though
the rear end of thc wagon had been
carried up low story higher than
the rest. Midway letween the face
of this higher lcar part and the
driver seat there was another high
CT section extending across the roof
from side to side, but narrc",.
1.-The sides of the wagon body were
panelel Off. The holdings marked
the spaces into which the interior
was divided, and access to the COM
partments was had by doors in the
sides and the end. The seat at the
forward end of the wagon was capa-
cious and comfortable, and there
Was over it substantial leather top
that would keep out any weather.
Attached to this wagon there was q
rair of big, eccd locking, we'll fed
horses that could haul it anywhere.
Take it all together, the outfit had
an air of solidity, combined With 70
small degree of rakishness. 1t was
an outfit such as any man might
reasonably be proud of.
II don't ren emLer what he was
selling, llt it was something packed
in LoAes. He brought in a SAMPLE
he was ratLer tall nan, with a
Leald, with gcod lUn ored eye and
O cuiet m; nner-ard tie merchant
bought scme. Then lie went out to
his wagon again and t-crght in the
goods, and he brought with him
cardboard placard which evidently
he intended to lut up in the store.
Rising in the center of the store
was large, square wooden 1illa-
supporting overhead Zig cross
beam, uIor which, IsuTl csc, tie in
rer ends cf the fccr leans tested.
" hen he had laid the goods down or
the counter, he picked up the card
that he had brought in with then
and turned toward the square pillar
in tie center of the store. lie had
located it when he came in, or
guess lie Enew it. He and the store
keeper dicn't talk very much, but
thought they seemed to know each
other. No doubt he lad been there
before.
1.-The big, square post was covered
with just such cards as he had
brought in, tackled on all over, all
around as high as man could reach,
and couldn't see where he was 60
ing to get his card in, but he walked
over to the post just as though there
were plenty of room there. He took
a paper of tacks out of his pocket
and sifted out four into the palm OF
hisleft hard and then put them into
his mouth. Then he placed his In.
card against the side of the POST
and pushed it up until the bottom
of twas clear of the top of the high
est card on that side. He could dc
this because he was pretty tall, and
hewas simply holding on to his card
at the bottom. But couldn't see
yet how he was going to reach up te
tack it at the top.
but he trued it up on tho face OF
the post with both hands calmly,
and then, holding it with one hand,
hereached into his outside coat pock.
ct for his hammer. 1t was just G
small tack hammer with rather g
long handle. He carried the head OF
the hammer up to his mouth, AND
when he withdrew it there was q
tack sticking to the face of it. The
head of the hammer was magnetic
ed, and the smooth, fiat top of the
head Of the tack stuck to its face, the
point projecting in line with the
hammers head. All he had to dc
was to reach up. With single taI
ho drove the tack through the caro-
at ono corner away up at the tor
easily. Then he drove tack through
the other upper corner i'll the same
manner, and then he drove in a cou
pie of tacks ut the bottom and drop
ped the hammer in his pocket. Thcr
he went out and got on his Wagon
and drove off. New York Sun.