The tale is told of Dave Randall, who was once the Customer Relations Expert for Scribner’s Rare Book Department. Randall had tried relentlessly to obtain one of an old collector’s thirteen copies of Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. The owner stubbornly refused to let go of a single copy. He refused every overture attempted by Dave.

One Friday this owner called Dave Randall and said he had changed his mind. He was now ready to sell. It seemed to just come out of the blue.

Mrs. Randall drove her husband the very next day to meet with the owner. They met at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut. Mr. Randall presented the owner with a check and hoped to take possession of the document. The owner balked. Here is a record of the conversation:

“That check is not certified,” the old seller said rudely.

“But it’s not mine; it’s Mr. Schreibner’s personal check,” complained Randall.

“Can’t help that. And what were you intending to do with my property until Monday?” inquired the seller.

“I was going to take it back to my house,” replied Randall.

“Might easily burn down.”

“Well, it hasn’t for 150 years,” said Mr. Randall who was getting rather impatient by this time.

“Young man, that won’t stop it from burning down tomorrow. I will bring the document in by train on Monday—insured all the way—and bring it to you office and you will hand me a certified check.”

“Persnickety old fool,” said Mr. Randall to his wife as they drove away.

On the following Monday, one of the happiest men in America handed over the invaluable document and took the cashiers check. He had just been told that Mr. Randall’s home had burned to the ground on Sunday!

Persnickety old fool no more!