by "Merk Jr.," out of Buster stock on the dam's side,
one of which, a perfectly marked seal brindle female, at once took her
fancy, and she said: "We have just come from another large kennel in
Boston where they asked us three hundred dollars for a little female I do
not like nearly as well as this one." Her husband was one of the leading
men of one of the largest trusts in the country, and money was apparently
no object, and when I replied, "Mrs. Keller, that dog you select is not
worth over fifty dollars (the price I afterwards sold her for) and the
best dog in the litter I shall be glad to let you have for seventy-five,"
she seemed much surprised. I then, of course, told her that the dogs were
not worth more as their muzzles were not deep enough to be worth a higher
price than I wanted. I recently received a letter from her stating that
her dog was still as active and much loved as ever, and the number of
orders that have come to me through the sale of this dog would surprise
the owners of those kennels who stick their customers with an outrageous
price, and who find to their sorrow that no subsequent orders ever come,
either from the customer or any one else in the vicinity. People have a
way sooner or later (usually sooner) in discovering when they have been
overcharged and act accordingly.

One other recommendation I wish to make in place here is: "Never try to
fill an order that one has not the dogs to suit." Frankly say so, and
recommend a brother fancier that you know has. One good turn deserves
another and he may have a chance later to reciprocate. This creates a
kindly feeling amongst kennel men, and is productive of good will, and
ofttimes a large increase in business. A few years ago a lady from
Connecticut came to see me to buy a first class dog or a pair, if she
could get suited. I knew that in the past she had paid the highest price
for her Bostons, and she wanted a dog in the neighborhood of two thousand
dollars. I told her at once I had nothing for sale to suit her, but that I
knew a man who owned a dog I considered worth about that sum, and
recommended her strongly to buy him, and sent her to Mr. Keady, who sold
to her "Gordon Boy" for that price. The sequel to this is somewhat amusing
and shows how reciprocity did not take place. I went to see a litter of
pups at Mr. Keady's house soon after, and expected to obtain a somewhat
favorable price on the pup I picked out of the litter on account of the
sale