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Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 48, 24 April 1863, Page 2

Diamohd Cut Diamond. — The contri vances which are resorted to to get hold c one another's prices beforehand by com a ' a peting contractors for railway cars are mani is fold, and when they attend in person the commonly put off the filling up of their ten der to the last moment. Once a shrewd cor j> tractor found himself at the same inn with »& rival "who always trod close on his heels. Q sag was followed about and cross-questionec/fr x& cessantly, and gave vague answers. Withi ,^ half-an-hour of the last moment he weii ' ■ into the coffee-r<som and sat himself down i J a corner where his rival could not overloo m him. There and then he filled up his tendei i e j and as he rose from the table left behind hii ; r£ the paper on which he had blotted it. Ash . left the room, his rival caught up the blottin * c paper, and with the exulting glee of a cob *-.i sciously successful rivalj Tead off the amour be backwards. "Done this time?" was hi j 0 mental thought, as he filled up Ids own tei £_ der some dollars lowei, and hastened to d< V posit it. To gutter* surprise, the next da *r$ , he found thatfhfebhad lost the. contract, an t>u ■ complaining, asked his rival how.it was 1 ltt] [ had " tendered below him?* •* How did yo - know you were below me,* "Because! I'foun ' . your blotting paper!'?. "l. thought so. er . left it on purpose tor you, and I wrote ai lo other tender in my bed-room. You ha 1 better make your own calculation next tune : [ Adam's Roads and Rails. *