Smart began to feel very hot.

"The book-keeper tells me that your last bill ran nearly two months
over time, and that you not only refused to pay interest, but did not
pay express on your remittance. Now, Mr. Smart, this is not right. Our
place of business is Toledo, not North Portage; our bills are due
here, not there; and if we allow them to run sixty days after due we
are loaning you money, and ought to be paid for the use of it."

"I don't get interest from my customers," said Solomon.

"That's your business and theirs. You do not sell them on a jobber's
profit. We deal with you as a business man, and in a business way. I
think I know just how you feel," said Shaw, pleasantly; "when I began
business I felt the same way. I squeezed every cent that I could from
the men I bought from; but I discovered that it was poor policy. I
saved a few cents and lost the good will of the house, which was worth
dollars. I speak of all this in a kindly way, and to avoid future
misunderstandings. Don't you think of any thing else? No? Well,
good-by, I am glad you called and hope to do more with you in the
future." And before Solomon knew it he was bowed out.

But he was boiling with rage. He was particularly angry with himself.
He had stood there and taken the lecture as if he was a boy. It was in
his mind to cancel the order just given to Shaw, but that gentleman
had dismissed him so politely and smoothly that he hadn't had time to
do it. It had never seemed possible to him that he would have listened
to such a lecture as that without giving back as good as he got, and
then sending the man and his goods to---, a place where there is no
insurance against fire.