I heard this even while serving my customer and I don't think I had ever seen Larsen act so pleased. The old chap almost purred with delight. The salesman didn't say any more to Larsen, however, but turned around and inspected the electrical goods.
When I was disengaged he walked over to me.
"Good morning, Mr. Black; I have a message for you; but, before I deliver it, I wonder if you have such a thing as a bit of scrap zinc or tin around the place?"
"Yes," I said, and told Jimmie to bring a piece.
The jolly-looking man then took a pocket-knife from his pocket, opened it and cut two or three slivers off the zinc. Passing the knife over to me, he said: "Did you ever see a pocket-knife before that could do that without denting?"
"No. But I never heard before of any one cutting zinc with a pocket-knife."
"SNIPPED THREE SHORT PIECES OF WIRE FROM THE COIL"
"Of course they're not meant for that purpose; but a pocket-knife that can do that must have quality in it."