The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-02-05
THE CATHOLIC BULLETIN, FEBRUARY 5, 1927

ooh, / don't know about that" Har-
ry Lee replied pleasantly. Color is
rather a deceptive thing, find, even
when one does not have to wear
spectacles. Six yards, you said?'
Harry. you knew that wasn't the
same goods said Bob Bartlett, the
other clerk, when the lady had made
her purchase, and had gone out of
hearing. "You heard Mr.. Jessup say
the other day that he couldn't get a
duplicate of the first pattern"
well! What of it," retorted Har-
ry, laughing. IF had said it was a
cheaper grade, the old lady'd have
had her eyes out for breakers right
away. I'd have had to handle over
half the goods in the store, and, prob
ably, not making sale then. It's
just trick of the trade, my youthful
friend. I charged her the old price,
gave her enough discount on the
whole trade to ease my conscience,
and she'll never be the wiser"
"It isn't honest" objected Bob, a
trife awed by his companions fluent
reasoning. "Mr. Jessup wouldn't ap.
prove of it, I'm sure, if he knew"
"He isn't going to know, unless you
feel called upon to tell him." sneered
Harry. "Old Jessup does dozens OF
things worse than that every day OF
his life
TITS no more like the first piece
than daylight and dark" pronounced
Miss Slimmins, the village dress
maker, holding the late purchase up
to the light and passing the folds
through her experienced fingers. 'Td
take 1t right back to them the first
thing in the morning-that's what I'd
do. Who'd you get it of, Mrs. Davis
There isn't any use asking, though
It's that little Lee fellow. I'll
wager,-just like one of his smart
tricks"
"It's long ways back to Coopers
town just for that" protested Mrs
Davis mildly. "It's cut off now, ant
it'll make UP pretty at any rate. He
threw off some of the price, too
"He ought to- snapped Miss Slim
minis, Tbut, of course, it's your dress
and it does look pretty, but it won
wear with the other-I can tell 20,
that"
Thus it came about that the good:
was not returned, nor any complaint.
made concerning the substitution
Mrs. Davis was an easy-going woman
not given to insisting upon her rights
and she quietly dropped into the way
| of doing her shopping at the big store
on the opposite corner. That was tn,
result of Harry Lees sharp practice
! so far as his employers interests were
concerned.
Some two months later, Mrs. Da
Wis brother, wealthy paper mer
chant in the city, spent a night will
her. ..
I'm looking for new hand in tn,
shipping department" he said in tn,
course of some conversation. Its
permanent position with steady ris
until one gets to the top, and Tn
anxious to find just the right man
There's a young fellow over at Coor
erstown-Lee, yes, Harry Lee. H
made an application through his un
cle-doing business in the next bloc
land he has written twice himself
He's fine looking-sent his photo
graph. Know him."
1--WE traded with him, now an
then" Mrs. Davis replied evasively
He is nice looking-skin just as fai
as girls and such black eyes,"
But is he as good as he looks?
Mr.. Baker was shrewd, and detecte
more in his sisters face than he
words expressed.
II wouldn't want to hurt the youn
mans chances" Mrs. Davis said re
luctantly, "but I bought a dress pal
tern there, to be the same as one L,
had before, and it wasn't. Miss Slim
mins-you remember Martha, John
said right off it was one of Lees smar
tricks. That's exactly the words sh
used"
| Smart tricks" Mr.. Baker repeat
ed musingly. eve haven't much us
for those down in our place. 1t woul
be too risky, Sarah, to assume that i
was only blunder, so l won't driv
over there in the morning as intend
ed doing. The right manIl turn up il
time and I'll spend the morning wit
YOU"
Hes probably taken on somebod
that had friends to boost him along,
Harry commented bitterly, when h
read his uncle's letter, announcin
that the desirable vacancy at Baker
was filled. "a fellow that hasn't
pull'-just has to scrub along TO
himself-that's ALL"
|