Just so! I was in for it again, and in for it bad. Sometimes it pays
to be smart, and sometimes it does not. This was one of the latter
times. As a matter of fact I had no business to quote a discount
greater than 20 per cent, but I had said 25 so as to make a good
impression on him, and at 25 and 10 I was sure to catch Hail Columbia
from the house.

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."