Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1893 — AT HIS OWN GAME. [ARTICLE]

AT HIS OWN GAME.

A Book Agent Who Paid $5 for Valuable- Experience. Detroit Free Press, He was a book agent, and apparently a thrifty one, for his clothes were good and he had the bearing of a man who knetv his business and did it successfully. He knocked at the door of a house on Second avenue, and upon being admitted sent up his-card. The lady of the house, of course, didn’t knQMTWho her visitor was, and came down to see. As soon as she- stepped -i«t& the room where he sat expectant, she spotted him for what he was and made up her mind. “Ah, Mr. Blank,” she said, so cordially that he lost his balance, “how do you do? lam real glad you came in. You knew it was very kind of you. So many men have a way of trying to escape, and it is such a rare thing for one to be brave enough to come right up, that really I am charmed.”

By this time the agent was clear off his feet, and tried to say something, but she went right on. “You know, of course, you must know, that the ladies on this street are doing all they can to raise money enough to buy an organ for our church, and we only need now SIOO to complete the full amount necessary. Of course we expected you would give us $lO, but as you have been bold enough to beard the lion in his den”—-and she 1 laughed merrily—“why, you know I am going to let you off on only $5. It’s such a small amount that I'm sure you will not hesitate to give it to us, though of course, if you wish to make it $lO we will not refuse it.” By this time he had in some manner fished out the only $5 bill he had, and handed it over. “I'm sure —"he began. “Oh, don’t mention it,” she went on; “you are too kind; and now I won’t detain you a moment longer from business, for I know how busy you men are in the daytime.” He began to say something again. “No, no, she intcruptf*d. “I won't listen to a word. You must go now, and some other time you may come in and tell me how glad you are to help us,” and she fairly-hustled him out of the front door, and shut it after him. Then she laughed. “Well," she said, “I guess ha won’t come back again,” and he, from the other side of the door, didn’t ask her to guess again.