The uncanny Mr S H

Beginning of last week a gent came into the shop .He sort of hovered in the door way peering at the stacks for a bit before committing himself to stepping in to the premises. Myself and MR H were front of shop, Minion 2 and Malcolm were in Children’s classics trying to pinpoint the cause of a recurring yet intermittent peculiar smell (long unnerving story), our visitor was not a regular, he was well dressed with a long, strongly featured face and the air of one who was under a compulsion to do something unpleasant.
Sam Haine’s is organized so that the stacks within sight of the door sell mostly modern paper backs, this stops in Sam‘s words “the casual shopper cluttering the serious aisles”. After our visitor had assured himself that we were a proper book shop, he disappeared in to the depths.
When he reappeared several hours later he looked entirely different. His previously immaculate camel coloured coat was covered in the thick grey fur of dust which clearly showed that he had ventured into one of Sam’s avenues. His face was flushed; his eyes bright and he carried a huge pile of books.
As I began the task of sorting, recording, and pricing the books, he talked to Sam.

“Absolutely marvelous selection you store” he said

Sam agreed.
There were a few more remarks of the innocuous sort then he asked a question it that particular, seemingly careless but oh so earnest way that all second hand book shop seller’s recognize as the call of the true addict.

“Do you happen to know if you have a copy of ... (let’s call it Fly Fishing by J R Hartley)? I had a little look for it, couldn’t see it but thought I’d mention it.”

Sam made a show of seeming to search his memory before confessing that he wasn’t totally sure but he thought he might have seen it on the shelves somewhere. A look flashed across the man’s face, greed and glee. It is the look seen on children’s faces over some inexplicable object of total desire but which adults often learn to hide.

“Well “said our gent “unfortunately I have an appointment. I’m already late! But if you do find it maybe you could give me a ring on this number? I may even come back tomorrow”

Sam agreed and took his card and after paying enough to cover mine and Minion 2 wages for the week, the gent left.
Sam idly tapped the card against his teeth for a few minutes then walked into the stacks, he returned seconds late with a book, put the card in it and put it by the till.
“He’s worth two more visits “ Sam said “ then give him this , then One, as you hand it over , do be sure to mention that you are sure we have a copy of the very limited , very rare ,practically unheard of sequel somewhere in the shop.”

Something tells me we have a new regular.