Customer (pleased at the compliment).—“I didn’t know that I was a literary light.”
Agent.—“Oh, yes you are. You have distinctly that reputation. In fact, I heard about you before I came to town.”
Customer.—“Who told you so?”
Agent.—“Why, two or three parties in M—. up here told me to be sure and call on you. My manager in New York also sent me a list of twenty prominent people here, and your name was among them. So, you see, you are known on the outside as well as in your own town.”
Customer.—“I don’t see how you fellows find everything out.”
Agent (jokingly).—“Oh, you know, ‘murder will out.’”
Customer.—“You are right there, but I don’t understand what you mean by a Library Club.”
Agent.—“I’ll tell you. It is a scheme that gives you a chance of getting a library of your own which will cost you virtually nothing.”
Customer.—“I still don’t understand.”
Agent.—“I’ll explain further. You know that it is the working for single customers, or hunting them up and delivering, that makes the book business so expensive. Quick sales and small profits put quite a different face on the matter. Now, here is a new edition of Roberts’ works in twelve large volumes. It contains all the products of this famous author’s pen, and is the only complete set ever published. One set, regular price, costs twenty-four dollars, but if I can get up a club for twenty sets, in this town or vicinity, I’ll cut the price right in two, prepay the expressage and deliver them for twelve dollars. You can pay for them in little monthly payments of say one dollar and a half per month, and the entire set delivered at one time and in advance. Did you ever hear of a better offer?”