The Washington herald., 1913-08-10

nave tfleo IN vain 10 sell tor years,
and finally getting EN-. :"
chuckled old Daniel MacGregor.
dean OF statesmen, puts me in
mind Of an incident Of my early days as q
salesman.
land was one Of those typical I told you once
/ didn't want your hardware, and I'll be dog
goned II change my mind fellows. You
know the kind. II you happen to make your
initial visit when they feel good. all right. but
II you strike them on a day when they have
crewled out Of the wrong side Of the bed
whew!
1T was my fortune to visit this dealer on
a day when he had nothing to give but snarls.
short answers, and meaning glances in the
general direction of the door. Nope he
wouldn't look at my saws or anything else.
He didn't have time and there was no use
a-talkin' to him. So he said. and believed
him
Seeing there was no use humping against
a stone wall, I left, smarting with indigna-
ton. determined never to come in contact
with the old crouch again. He was one Of
those kind who wouldn't listen to common
sense. Plain hog stubbornness That's the
way I felt when left his store, but the next
time I landed in Cleveland my wounded feel
ings had recovered and remembered that
big store that couldn't sell. And within me
during the next few moments grew deter
mination. together with a feeling Of self
scorn. Then started for the store 1 was
set on selling that dealer. But all to no
avail. He became so nettled at my persist
ency that he deliberately left me and walked
to the other end Of the store.
From that time on made II a point to
weather every time l visited the city. He
couldn't object to that.
lone time arrived during the noon hour.
The owner was out for lunch. and the clerk
was at home. sick. so I was informed by the
small boy temporarily in charge.
Boss Out. Serves Customer.
II sat down to await the proprietor's re-
turn customer entered, q man Of 10 or
thereabouts. The boy mumbled something
about the boss being out for a minute or two: {:
that he'd be back directly: that he should
started for the door.
Just a moment, SIR ! called after him.
'Tll wait on you
~ want a good chisel and gimlet.' the
customer said.
and a sweeping glance failed to reveal either
Of these articles, Then an idea came to me.
I opened my suitcase and extracted my sam
pies behind the counter.
"' Here is one brand, said. putting them
before him for his inspection. Just a minute
and I'll show you others soon found the
desired tools in the shops stock. I showed
these to the customer. too. We talked over
the various merits OF the respective brands.
These look like the best brand he
doomed in a bass voice IN take this chiseI
and simlet.'
Here the door slammed and in walked
the crouch, Talk about your conflicting
emotions. / felt reasonably certain that the
boss was capable of murder on his of days.
which thought made me quake, and still
felt proud because the patron had selected
my goods.
The proprietor greeted the customer in
tone that reassured me that my lease on
life was not going to be Immediately fore
closed. Then he stared at me and at the
goods was wrapping up. The customer
left with his purchases.
~ trust you will pardon me for the lib
erty have taken l said. While was
waiting for you. that gentleman came in and
as there was no one to serve him, / assumed
the role Of clerk and sold him my goods-my
samples. although assure you Lshowed him
your stock Of goods as we'll He could see
that. They lay scattered over the counter.
" The dealer listened attentIvely and then