"That's your business, not mine. I don't care what you take back or do
not take, but I object to your taking them back and then shifting all
the burden over to us. We have charged your account with the cost of
making these axes good."

"Well, that's the last time you'll ever have a chance to do that."

"We can't help that; right is right. It's a small affair, but the
thing has to stop some time, and it had better be stopped now."

Solomon pulled out his wallet, "How much is my balance here?"

Braun turned him over to the book-keeper, who took his money and gave
him a receipt. As he walked out he did not hear the remark of Braun to
the clerk: "He's one of those smart Alecks that have to be sat down on
occasionally, but I guess I gave him a lesson."

He bought his hardware of another house; he bought his groceries of a
new firm; he didn't buy any boots and shoes at all, because the clerk
did not take hold of him just right, and he reached home the next
morning a tired, soured and disgusted man. He told his wife that he
had been a fool to spend money when he might have stayed at home and
bought of traveling men. "I tell you," said he, "a man's a mighty
sight more independent when buying in his own store. The drummers are
red hot for orders, and you can squeeze them down. Then you've got
your stock to look at, and see costs, etc., and the men feel you're
doing them a favor to give them an order; but, by George, they think
they're doing you a favor to sell you in their own stores. I'm done
going to town."