A POOR BARGAIN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 7569, 23 May 1914, Page 3

A POOR BARGAIN.

As an illustration of the inherent charactei'istic of some people to get the best of a bargain, the following story is going the rounds in South Africa. At a trading station in Rhodesia there arrived one morning-lately a. man who asked to bo shown some revolvers. After a thorough examination his fancy selected one at £4 10s., for which he offered £4 cash. Ttho trader stuck out for his price, and his customer haggled over that 10s. for half an hour, by which time the trader got tired and cut the price. The customer, delighted with his bargain, paid up promptly, and having reached the door put the revolver to his head and blew bis brains out. The curious fact remains that, in searching his pockets afterwards, a considerable amount of cash was found. A COOL CUSTOMER. A few days ago I met with the toughest case in my whole experience,” said the agent of a very successful debt-coi-lectmg firm. “I tackled my man for £3 ho owes to a restaurnat. He’s an artist. “ ‘l’m sorry,’ said he, leaving off work on the picture, and pushing his velvet smoking-cap on the back of his head, while he looked lazily at the bill, ‘but 1 cannot pay this for a few mouths yet.’ “ ‘Why not?’ said I. “ ‘Because I have a more pressing liability.’ “ ‘More pressing than a bill of tins kind?’ said I sarcastically. " ‘Yes, a good deal,’ said be. Tin Inlying a pair of shoes on the instalment p(,.n and tho second shoo is to be delivered 10-dav if I make partial payment. Tho coin is here,’ said he, tapping his waistcoat pocket. “ ‘All right,’ 1 said, ‘but you just give that coin to mo on account, or I’ll sell you up.’ “ ‘Sell what up?’ he drawled out. - “ ‘Why, these pictures.’ said I, sweeping my arm in a comprehensive way round the studio. “ ‘These pictures? All right, my boy; go ahead. If you can sell them, I’ll be much obliged to you. It’s morn than I can do.’ With iliat lie lighted bis pipe and wen), on painting as tranquil as a r.mnliter’s day. f admired him. and asked him out to have a drop of something. “ ‘Excuse me,’ he said, standing hark ,a'd regarding his picture with one eve closed, but not even glancing at me,’ “I never have social relations with my tradespeople. ' “1 was faint when I got down to the street.”