Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 242, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 October 1914 — BOOK AGENT AS HE ISN’T [ARTICLE]

BOOK AGENT AS HE ISN’T

Fable in Words of One or More Syllables That Is Credited to New York Man. \ “You have sent for me,” said the book agent, entering the busy man’s office. — r m “Yes, yes,” said the busy man. “Have a chair, please. Shan't keep you long.” -“I can come some other day, if you prefer,” said the book agent, edging toward the door. “No, no,” cried the busy man. “I want to see if you can sell me a set of Dickeray.” “I suppose I could,” replied the book agent, dubiously, "but I don’t believe a busy man like you will ever have time to read it. Why don’t you wait until you have retired from business life and then decide whether you are still interested?” “I must have it,” said the busy man, sharply. “I want something nice in crushed levant, with gold tops and all that; a limited edition de luxe, if you have it.” "Won’t it be somewhat of a drain on your purse?” suggested the book agent. "This paying for books month after month becomes monotonous. A man may think it a trifle at the start, but after the first six months it gets on his nerves. Why not go to a regular store and buy your set of Dickeray in cloth at a cash price for about onesixth of what I can offer you?” "Oh, all right,” growled the busy man./ “Have it your own way. But I’m sorry to have taken up your time.” "Oh, that’s nothing,” said the book agent. “Some day you may have a real need of something in my line and then I’ll be glad to sell it to you. Good morning!”—Frank M. O’Brien, in the New York Press.