Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-02-12
Stump Country Shopkeeper.

might want. II he did not have il in
stock he could get il.
That storekeeper," native of the
town said to business man, a Sum-
mer visitor, "is the most REMARKABLE
man know. l'xs been dealing with
him for twenty-sears, and never
knew any one, when il came TO askint
for something, to stump him. It
sells everything from toothpicks to
elephants tusks."
BET YOU SO | can stump him ?" the
visitor challenged. "l'll ask for sons
thing he hasn't got. I'm from tn
city, and I'd like to see rube store
keeper get away with anything like
that with me-"
ITS a CO." the native said. "Shake
on it, and meet me tomorrow night,
and let me know how you made out"
The following morning the visitor
entered the store. 1t was not a par
ticularly large store, but was, as his
friend explained, stocked with pretty
much of everything, indicating that its
proprietor desired to anticipate the
wishes of as many customers as pos
sible. There were curios and memen-
tos from strange and distant lands,
garden tools, bric-a-bac, and many
other articles for use and ornament.
The proprietor, a weakened faced
old fellow, was finishing waiting on a
customer.
what can do for you, Sir?" he
asked pleasantly.
"I'd like TO buy a church pulpit" he
replied unsmilingly, eff you sell such
things"
"Why, assuredly, we sell pulpits,"
the old man solemnly declared. am
not sure that we have what you want in
stock, but if not we can get it for you
in a few days"
Unfortunately" the visitor protest
ed, 81 cannot wait. | must get a
pulpit today"
The storekeeper looked perplexed.
After much rummaging behind the
counter he produced a dusty catalog of
church equipment and placed it before
the visitor. 1t was illustrated with
pictures of various types of pulpits,
and the storekeeper suggested mildly
that among such a collection the GUS
toner should find something to suit
his fancy. He confessed that his
supply of pulpits was low, but added
that he could get any OF the types in
the catalogue in a couple of weeks al
the most.
"They are entirely too ornamental, =
the visitor protested, "and too high
in price. Now, what wanted was a
plain, square, oak pulpit of medium
size, a secondhand one preferably
which would not cost more than SIS
do not care how old it is or where i.
came from as long as it is in good con
diton."
He felt he had the old man beaten
and he leaned across the counter, q
triumphant gleam in his eyes.
The storekceper laid aside the cata-
log with a sigh of relief, and began
to whistle softly.
My FRIEND" he said, 81 IN glad you
told M what you wanted. have
fortunately the very pulpit you de-
scrIhed in my storeroom. Come with
me, and | will show you. purchase
1t few days ago from the trustees of
the first African Methodist Episcopal
Church. 1t is worth $50. intend
ed TO ask $50 for it, but since you mus
nave a pulpit today, and as it has long
been the policy of our store to pleas
customers, especially new ones, you
may have have it at your own price
1t is yours"
The visitor had followed him meek
~ TO the Storeroom, and there SUR
enough was the identical pulpit, in al
lis homely plainness, that he had Sc
gIibly described. There was no wa,
TO bac' out of the situation with
honor, so he paid for the monostrosity
and started in a dazed fashion to
walk out of the store, but at the
threshold the storekeeper detained
him.
Deg your pardon, Sir" he said
but YOU haven't told me where to
send it,"
why, to the hotel, of course" ne
instructed; "any time tomorrow will
do'' and he hastened to his friends
nome to pay his bet, turning over in
MS mind plans for getting even with
him.
Here's Nnur ten ~ he Snid OH q.