Life — June 7, 1906 — page 33: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

he ver can rit, ght aise t to “But you can’t get along without one, sir, in these days. I'll show you a argain.”” 5 You mean if I'll take another machine you'll allow me something on this | Yes.”” “And if I don’t take another machine?” Fifth shrug. “Very sorry, sir.” With a supreme effort at restraint, Dimpleton tumed on his heel and walked out. There was no use to “kick.” He had been buncoed. Now, to get out of | | it, with as small loss as possibl During the next two hours one he met with the same tale. If the machine he had was in first-class con: tion and he would give them a “demonstration,” they would place it on sale, with the possibility of his getting Sso0 or S60 out of it. Would they buy it from him in its present condition ? Never! Not at any price. Phen Dimpleton went back to his new friend, Trundle. That gentleman, « by two assistants, was on his back under a huge machine, in the centre of urage. Around him on every side was a heterogeneous mass of automo- mall ones and big ones, buckboards, auto cycles and mechanical odds and ends of every description. Kieing a new customer, Mr. ‘Trundle did not keep him waiting more than fificen minutes before he rose from his work. “Well, Mr. Trundle, did you make an estimate for that machine ?” “Yes, sir. It will cost you between $500 and $600.”” What “That's right! In the first place, you'll have to get a new engine and a new shaft. That’s $200 right off the bat. Then there’s other parts, and there’s | | srazing to be done, and numerous things I can’t mention. The whole machine nave to be broken up.” Broken up?” “That's what we call it. That is, taken down, every nut and bolt, and put back. Ittakes time—more time than you'd dream of. Yes, sir, Mr. Dimpleton, it’s.a hell of a job!” Dimpleton almost swooned. Mr. Trundle had the reputation of being an honest mechanic. There was no hance of getting it done anywhere else any cheaper. Besides, Dimpleton didn’t want to spend any more—he wanted to get rid of the machine with the best face possible. “Look here, Trundle,” he exclaimed. “Here’s the whole thing in a nutshell. In a moment of insanity I bought a second-hand automobile, and a few hours | after I get it I find I’m stuck. Now, I want to do what any man does when he’s nt with a gold brick. I want to pocket my loss and forget it. I don’t want any deeper in the hole. I’m satisfied. I’ve had enough. Take the old chine off my hands, Trundle. Pay me anything you please. I'll let you have or thirty cents.” Trundle shook his head. “T'm afraid,” he said, “that it’ “What, you don’t mean that! ‘ , I do, sir. You sce, I’m overloaded now. Haven't got half room enough. I'd have to fix that machine up first before I could sell it—no one wants an auto that doesn’t go—and when I did make it go I'd be running a risk no, thank you. I have chances like that every day. You're asking me to do mething that you don’t want to do yourself.” “But I’m not in the business. I’m willing to lose. My peace of mind is worth something.” “T understand all that, sir. But there’s no money in that sort of thing 's No use to me.” ll, keep the dam thing, Trundle. Perhaps some one will be willing to ike it off your hands.” “Sorry I can’t do that, Mr. Dimpleton, but I’m overcrowded now. If you wanted to get her fixed up, of course I'd have to keep her here while she was ‘wing repaired, but I couldn’t do it any longer. You can store her somewhere for about $15 a month.” Dimpleton’s face, while Mr. Trundle had been speaking, grew gradually paler, “As I understand the matter,” he said, “I’ve got on my hands a second-hand clephant that nobody wants and that I can’t get rid of. I certainly am not going to pay $15 a month fora useless ormament like that. And I certainly am hot going to pay out $500 or $600 on the chance of selling her. Trundle, you send her up to my house.” sited half a dozen auto exchanges. At every The GORHAM COMPANY’S Special Storage Service offers many advantages for the handling and safe keeping of Silverware and Other Valuables Patrons are relieved of all trouble and responsibility. The Articles are called for Inventoried and Packed at Residence. Any picce is instantly available at any time. If desired, valuables while in Storage may be repaired and refinished and returned in perfect condition for immediate use. The GORHAM Company Silversmiths and Goldsmiths Fifth Avenue and Thirty-Sixth Street Cowan’s Is an American institution—“At Cowan’s,”’an international phrase. HoaeeAaAAaAnoAaneaoo The retail shop in Chicago is known the world over. Cowan handmade furniture, exclusively in mahogany, from criginal designs and in reproduction of Colonial models, is at the head of American furni- ture making. 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