The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-10-25
Stories Of Grand Forks

the Grand Forks retail stores has !,
good chance to study human nature
If he is so inclined. In the handling
OF credit accounts especially, little pc
culiarities of the genus homo crop out
that may make him stand agape for
awhile. but eventually add much to his
store of knowledge and equip him the
better to deal with some delicate situa-
tions which he is sure to encounter.
When one considers that thousands
and thousands of dollars worth of
merchandise is taken from the big
Third street establishments every
month without so much as the scratch
of a pen to show the good faith of the
purchaser or to safeguard the seller
against loss. 1t Is not surprising that
the confiding merchant is imposed up-
on sometimes or that occasionally
there is loss.
The way certain thrifty housewives
make these charge" accounts serve
their convenience is astonishing. The
girl at the exchange desk in one of the
stores few days ago was approached
by lady in velvet who produced from
the mysterious recesses of her costume
package containing what had been,
when she purchased it. full bolt of
costly dress braid. She did not know
at that time exactly how much would
be needed. so to make sure that she
had enough and to guard against waste
as we'll, no doubt. she ordered the
whole bolt. She then took back what
was left. asked and got credit on her
account for the unused part. This is
a mild case.
The charge" account of the depart
ment store furnishes great oppor-
tunity for the industrious woman who
does Il little sewing at home. but often
is at loss to figure out the exact form
OF certain parts of garment or to
know what are the latest styles. II
she has the requisite nerve-and SOME
OF them have-she goes to the store,
picks out costly made-up dress that
suits her fancy, has it sent to the
house. studies it two or three days,
gets whatever information she needs
as to the style and making, then sends
posta! card to the merchant, asking
that he send for the dress. as it is
not satisfactory. The easy" purveyor
merchan'. fellowt -beogd oHetaoinsh
responds promptly and without ques-
ton. and is never the wiser for the
little trick of which he has been the
victim.
sometimes, however. these nice lit
tie games go amiss. There is matron
OF the West Side who recently had sent
to her house handsome dress waist
that she might get from it the model
OF the collar for use on one she was
making. She kept it several days, or
until she had made the part of her
own dress in almost exact duplicate
OF the borrowed" article, then as she
happened to be going downtown that
day. thought she would return the
latter personally. She looked up the
salesman who had sold it to her, or
thought he had, and he very politely
agreed to take back the waist. He I'M
wrapped the package and spread it out
on table before himself and his Gus
toner. when what should roll out from
the folds of the garment but the COL
lar that rightly belonged to it and
with it the homemade counterfeit!
A certain Grand Forks physician,
who, though still far from the age at
what men may be oslerized, has a
daughter old enough to make him a
father-in-law, is somewhat skeptical
as to the advantages of a son-in-law,
especially if he be one with so keen a
sense of humor that he can not keep
a story to himself, even when bribed
to do SO by the gift of many right-grade
cigars.
The story which the son-in-law de-
lights to narrate is what he considers
a good one on his wifes father, who
numbers among his patients a large
Irish clientele. The son-in-law, who
is in the real estate business, having
succeeded in disposing of some prop
erty belonging to one of these patients,
1t was necessary to secure the wife's
signature to the deed of SALE The hus-
band explained that as his wife was :.
busy housekeeper, with several small
children to look after. it would accom-
modate both her and him if the real
estate man would bring the papers to
her home, thus saving her a trip down.
town.
The real estate man consented, and
taking the necessary papers, started
homeward with his patron. The wife,
who was found busy at some house.
hold duty, was evidently embarrassed
by the unexpected caller. and to set
ner at ease the husband explained that
Mr.. Real Estate Man was the son-in-
law of the family physician.
You don't mean it," cried the wife.
Why, you know, We think everything
OF the doctor. Indeed, he has buried
all our folks, and so, of course, we
would have no one else" Then, con-
scious that she had not conveyed ex-
actly the complimentary meaning
which she had intended, she flushed
and the real estate man, hoping to put
her at her ease, said quickly: "Yes,
we, too. think him the best doctor we
know. so we had him care for our lit
tie girl, who was seriously sick.
"Oh," exclaimed the woman SYM
pathizingly, what a pity. Did she
die?"
And that is the story that the doc
tor is weary of hearing.
As She Spoke.
She was a very beautiful woman.
and she was very beautifully dressed.
She entered the Metropolitan theater