§ 165 A Customer Who Wasn’t Wanted
Almost invariably, when men fall to discussing examples of business sagacity, someone present is reminded of the illustrative incident of the white tramp and the colored saloon-keeper.
The colored man sat behind his bar in a moment when trade was slack. Through the swinging doors entered the ragged Caucasian.
“Give me a good five-cent cigar,” he ordered.
The proprietor produced a box containing a number of dangerous-looking dark-brown rolls. The patron made a discriminating choice and then in the act of putting the cigar between his lips checked himself.
“Say, I’ve changed my mind,” he said. “Believe I’ll take a glass of beer instead.”
The negro returned the cigar to its box and drew a glass of beer. The customer drank it, wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and started to withdraw.
“Yere, hol’ on, w’ite man,” said the negro, “you forgot to pay fur dat beer.”
“Why, I give you a cigar for it.”
“Yes, but you ain’t paid fur de cigar, neither.”
“But you’ve still got the cigar, ain’t you? What’s the matter with you, anyhow?”
The colored man scratched his head.
“Lemme see, boss,” he said, “ef I gits dis thing straight: You don’t owe me for de beer, ’cause you give me de cigar fur it; and you don’t owe me fur de cigar, ’cause you handed it back to me. Is dat right?”
“Certainly, it’s right,” said the crafty white.
“Ver’ well, then,” agreed the colored man; “but say, mister, I wants to ax you a favor: Next time you feels lak smokin’ or drinkin’ please tek yo’ custom somewhars else.”