For years the old boy was notorious as the most unyielding financier in the city. In recent days, however, he fell upon hard times and became a tramp. One day he was walking the streets, begging with his tin cup. A man passed by and the tramp said:
"Sir, could you spare 17 cents for a cup of coffee?"
The man stared at him for a moment and then asked,
"Aren't you Fielding, the banker?"
The tramp hung his head, while the man tossed some coins into the cup. While he was so doing he said with a sneer,
"What I want to know is where you get coffee for 17 cents?"
To which the tramp replied,
"What, you don't think I buy retail, do you?"