A Man of Samples. Something about the men he met "On the Road" — John Shaqi
A Man of Samples. Something about the men he met "On the Road"Maher, William H.
General
A Man of Samples. Something about the men he met "On the Road"
Maher, William H.
Traveling sales personnel -- Fiction
Just then Bob, who had come over when appealed to about the list, said:
“There's that list you wanted,” and drew one out of a pile of papers on
the desk. Tucker opened it with an air of satisfaction, but I could see
his face grow black.
“D--n it, this isn't it.”
“Yes, it is; it's the one that came in yesterday, and there's the
figures on it you made for Utley,” persisted Bob.
I did not wait on ceremony, but looked over Tucker's shoulders, and to
my astonishment and delight, there was, in plain figures, discount on
Parker guns, 15 and 10 per cent.
“How in thunder did I make such a mistake!” said Tucker, with a somewhat
downfallen air.
“We all do it,” said I, anxious to help him out the best way I could.
“Fifteen and 10 is low enough, but if they were offering 50 and 10 I
would meet them.”
Don't you think, good reader, that this was a proper thing to say? It
seemed so to me, and cost nothing, so I said it. I added, “You see,
Mr. Tucker, my price of 25 per cent, straight was a better one than
Reachum's. Shall I send the guns at 25?”
“Why, you just now said you'd sell at 25 and 10!”
“I said that because you said you were offered at 25 and 10, but as that
was a mistake I take back my figures.”
“Well, let the Parker guns go.”
I was quite glad to do so. But it made it up-hill work for a few
minutes, until Tucker had got over his chagrin about the guns. But we
managed to get in smooth water again, and when we were through I had
taken a fair order from him, and much of it was for little odds and
ends that paid us a good profit. I bade him good-day with a feeling of
gratitude, and assured him of my hearty thankfulness.
After dinner I tackled a general dealer. The hotel clerk told me the
Pittsburg man, who was there a week before, had sold Cutter a bill, so I
had no hopes of doing much with him, but I had two hours yet, and might
as well improve them.
“Martin Cutter” was over the door, and I got an idea in my head that
he was a long, thin individual, with black hair and whiskers. But he
wasn't. He was of medium size, well built, and had an air of shrewdness
and of business about him. He was waiting on trade, so I sat down and
watched him and took notes of the stock. When he was through with his
customer he came forward and met me pleasantly, spoke well of our house,
but said he was just getting in a bill of revolvers and cartridges, and
needed nothing in our line.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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