Howard and the Dickering Stranger

Howard and the Dickering Stranger

It was a clear spring afternoon in the mid 1960's.  Several men were gathered in Clem Dean's general store.  It was a casual stopping point, where men of the area often gathered to socialize.

A stranger pulled up at the pump, and Clem went out to fill his tank.  The stranger walked into the store to buy some supplies for the road.  As he was walking around he noticed several men huddled together.

He walked over, and curiously asked "What's going on?"

Howard Long, a well known character of the area, looked up and said "They wanted to see my snake."

"Snake?" the stranger asked.  At which Howard pushed a large Pickled Bologna jar toward the stranger.  The rattlesnake in the jar, not enjoying all of the jostling struck the side of the jar toward the stranger. 

As the snake struck the jar, the stranger jumped back, tripped over his own feet, and fell.  This caused everybody in the store to laugh, including the stranger.  He picked himself up, brushing his clothes and walked back to Howard.  "Can I hold the jar?" he asked.

Howard handed the man the snake jar, which was taken gingerly.  As he stood looking at the jar, he thought of how fun it would be to show his friends a live rattlesnake.

He looked at Howard, "How much do you want for the snake" he asked.

Howard thought for a minute and said "You can have it for twenty dollars."

Twenty dollars was a quite a bit of money at that time and place.  The stranger laughed and said "I'll give you ten."

Howard shook his head and stated flatly, "Twenty."

The stranger said "I will give you ten, but not a penny more."

Howard looked at him and said "All right give me the fifteen dollars."

The stranger pulled out a ten and five and handed it to Howard.  Howard promptly spun the lid off of the jar and dumped the hissing rattler at the strangers feet.  "There you go." he calmly said.

The stranger fell back against the wall, staring in shocked surprise at the snake.  "Put it back in the jar!"  he screamed.

Howard just looked at him and said "You didn't buy the jar.  You bought the snake." 

The stranger was scared to death, with the angry snake close by his feet.  "H-H-How m-much for the jar?" he stuttered.

Howard shrugged and said "Ten dollars."  The stranger gladly paid, without haggling.