Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-15
BEATING TIE AGENT
How Bert Sold He WIfe . Sew.
 lng Machine.

l Where's 1t coming from?" he asked, having in mind the savings deposit they were making to buy home.
 T don't know about that" she said. but my clothes and the clothes for. you know who, will cost ready made more than machine would cost, and it's up to you to get the machine" You can figure that out easily enough. She said sine had to have 1t in one tone of voice, and she said he couldn't use the coin on hand in an- other tone of voice, and he balanced the two tones and found he had to think out way of getting what she wanted.
 Get me Blue Ribbon machine, Bert" she told him when he got up one afternoon earlier than his night work called for.
 Then he went out on tour of in- spection which took in three local agents for the famous Blue Ribbon. | I've got customer for you" he said to each one of the agents. But the price has got to be rock bottom. Tell me what you can do" In this way he found that there were prices for the Blue Ribbon ranging from an asking price of $60 to rock bottom price of $40.
 But what commission will you give me?" he asked of the $40 man.
 'I'll give you a five-spot." the agent replied, looking Bert squarely in the eye. when he saw tha. was the least he could offer and still get the GUS toner.
 ...It doesn't make any difference who the customer is, does it?" asked Bert.
 Not at all." said the agent. you give me the customer. and at $40. and the five is yours"
 Well, come on with your machine, and I'll take you right there as soon as you can load it in your buggy" said Bert.
 He had weeded out the excess com mission, had raked out an extra five dollars. and was feeling pretty good. But when he introduced the agent to his wife, with an announcement of the price as $40. he saw trouble ahead in the way the agents jaw set.
 "I'll take that five you promised mo now," Bert said, as the agent was about to leave, after closing with Mrs. Reader on terms of deposit and trial of 60 days, at the expiration of which the remaining $35 was to be paid.
 ( 70, we'll settle that at the ofice," the agent replied, in the midst of his remarks to Mrs. Reader.
 Well, I'll take that five now," said Bert, as they stepped into the ofnce.
 The agent laughed. ! What do you take me for?" he asked That was your wife"
 Sure, 1t was my wife that sold the machine to-" said Bert. And that is the reason why can stop the sale unless get what you promised" N "Then she loses her five if the sale stops." replied the agent, easily.
 'Tf l don't give the five. Mister Man. said Bert, getting ugly, the sale stops and you can keep the five, but I'll throw it down the back stairs, a long flight of back stairs leading to a hard cement walk!",
 The agent thought few moments.
 Do I get my five?" Bert asked. impatiently.
 "rll tell you what we'll do, MT. Reader-we'll split the difference" the agent. answered. taking out $2.50.
 "Naw, we don't split anything at all." said Bert.
 This is yours or nothing" the agent replied, holding out what he offered as commission.
 See here. I'm losing sleep talking to you, but get my five out of you inside of an hour and a half in an. other way!" exclaimed Bert
 "rd like to have you show me how you'll do that, my friend" said the agent. Its $2.50 for you or noth- ing"
 All right! You're on; I'll just lose an hour or so of sleep to show you" Bert said as he went out.
 All the way down town Bert re. volved plan in his head, and so he was ready to begin action as soon as he located the general manager of | the Blue Ribbon Sewing Machine com. pany.
 If I sell a machine for you at the | price of $40 will you give me a com mission of five dollars!" he asked the genial manager.
 "Sure!"
 Will 1t make any difference wheth. CT it Is sold to Mrs. Jones of Mrs. Smith?"
 "No difference at all." replied the manager, smiling.
 If you promise me five. you won't | go back on your word. will you!"
 Most assuredly you'd get your five, young man" exclaimed the manager. virtuously. That's the way this Blue Ribbon company does business. root and branch. Our word is as good as a bond."
 Well. that's what I thought. but your Belmont avenue agent promised me a commission of five dollars for selling a machine at that price under the same conditions. and when he found 1t was my wife I was selling the machine to he baked on the com mission-and here is a receipt for five dollars which wish you would fix up for me now.-