Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-05
When Rube Beat Broadway Faker.
CITY CHAP AT AUCTION THOUGHT CUSTOMER
COUNTRY easy"

! There he stood as mum as an oyster.
/ made frantic signals TO him, but it
was no use.
II guess that watch is NINE said
the farmer. in nasal, high pitched
voice.
He stepped up and took the watch
out of my hand before | had a chance
10 exchange it for a cheaper one, as
had planned to do. He paid for it and
walked back To his place.
L got out another watch, and the
| farmer asked To see il.
This amt no coed he said, in a
voice that could be heard all over the
, place.
Every man that has had experience
| in fake auction room knows that it
| does not pay to start an argument 1t
gets the crowd suspicious and makes
them critical. l didn't intend to let
! that farmer get arguing with me.
MY friend. said I. I know this is
not as good a watch as the one | just
| sold YOU | don't claim that il is
Put up another one just like mine.
1 want it for my son.
1T was crucial moment, and in
stinctively felt that the people in the
room We're getting suspicious. /
couldn't afford to take a chance. so l
got out another watch just like the
one the old fellow had bought. He
| looked it over searchingly, and asked
me to put it up. l asked for bids and
| felt certain this time that the 'eapper'
would be awake and on the job.
"A man in the back started the bid
az bo IN 10
s175.
Il signaed the 'capper' to get busy
but he never opened his mouth. | new
er worked so hard in my life, but the
hest | could get was S4.25. and that
was the hayseed's offer. No one rails
ed his bid, and there that 'capper'
stood like a mummy, never opening
his mouth For 10 minutes / told the
virtues of that watch, and assured the
men in the place that it could be
pawned for s25-which was the truth
well. to make long story short,
the rube also got that watch, and
didn't give me Il chance to substitute
a cheaper one, either.
AS soon as he had paid for the Sec
one watch the rube stalked out of the
store and down Broadway. / got the
assistant auctioneer to take my place
for a while and l signaled the .capper'
l wanted to see him in the office.
why didn't you raise the farmer
bid?' | demanded
why didn't l" he answered hys-
teriealy. That hayseed had a revolt
yer in his oyercoat pocket as big as a
Young cannon. Every time l started
10 raise his bid he tickled me under
the arm with that piece of artillery
and whispered to me to keep quiet.
He got wise as to how he was stung
the other day and came back to get
even New York Press.
PALERMO.
BRANCH MILLS-Chester Worthing
was a guest. Friday, of Eastman
Weber in Waterville.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wright Hisler visited,
Sunday. at Elon Kitchin's.
j. Z. Goddard of Waterville visited,
recently, his daughter, Mrs. Dean Els
ties.
f. A. Bean and son Archie of Bos-
ton were business callers, Saturday, in
the place.
Mrs. George Worthing, Chester and
Eva Worthing made business trip,
Tuesday, May u, to Waterville.
Miss Hattie Washburn visited. few
days last week. her cousin, Frank
Washburn and family at East Vassal-
boro.
Mrs. Holt is working for B. E.
Coombs.
Stephen Clark and sister Lucille of
Freedom were guests, last week, of
Flora Kitchin.
W. F. Jordan is at home, for a short
visit.
DR.. NJ. NJ. Smith, who is now locat-
ed in Waterville, visited, last week,
in Boston.
Charles Seekins is visiting his daugh-