BREAKING IN A BOOK AGENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 29, 4 February 1899, Page 5 (Supplement)

BREAKING IN A BOOK AGENT.

AN AMUSING EXPERIENCE.

'I am afraid that I once spoiled agood book agent,' said the head member of a

book agency,

'We had gotten out an expensive religious book, and had advertised for agents to handle it.

'Among the numerous applicants was a tall, lanky youth. 1 asked him if he thought he could sell books, and he said that he reckoned he could.

■ ' "Very well," said I, "I'll see what you can do. Take this book, and consider that I am your intended victim. The price of the book runs from 2dol. to 4doL, but you must always endeavour to sell the highest-priced book, although it is no disgrace to you if you only succeed in selling the cheaper kind. If you succeed in selling me a book I will hire you. Now go ahead."

'He took the book, fumbled it awkwardly, and then stammered: ' "Ye don't wanter buy a book, do ye, mister?'

'I smilingly answered that I did not. ' "Better buy one," said he; "I'll sell it

to ye pretty cheap. '

' "Get out of here!" I yelled, pretending to be mad. "Don't you see that sign, "Book Agents Not Wanted?"

' "I'll let ye hey one fer 4d015., mister, seem' it's ye," said, he, taking off his coat and throwing it on the floor.

' "I am afraid, '

" I began

'"Four dollars, mister, an' cheap at the price," he added, as he rolled up his shirt sleeves.

■ 'I didn't like the look of all these warlike proceedings, and declared the test off. But he refused, and gave me three minutes to "dig up" the price of the

book.

" 'White I was trying to make the fellow understand that the joke had gone far enough he jumped at me.

'I didn't stand the ghost of a show with the husky youth, and I soon found myself on the floor, with the would-be book agent sitting upon me, saying something about a book he wouiid sell me "powerful cheap."

'To safe my life I reluctantly consented to take one of the 2dol. kind. He said he was sorry, but he only sold, the 4dol. kind.

'He allowed me to get one hand loose, and I produced 4d01., wliereupn he released me, and wanted, to know how soon he could go to work.

'I kept my word, area hired him, sent him as far West as I cscaild, and then discharged him by wire.'—Exchange.