填空题 Checks have largely replaced money as a means of exchange for they are widely 1 everywhere. 2 this is very convenient for both buyers and sellers, it should not be forgotten that checks are not real money; they are quite valueless 3 themselves. A shopkeeper always 4 a certain risk when he accepts a check and it is quite within his rights if, on occasion, he refuses to do so.
People do not always 5 this and are unhappy 6 their good faith is called in doubt. An old and very wealthy friend of mine told me he had an extremely unpleasant experience. He went to a famous jewelry shop 7 keeps a large stock of precious stone and asked to be shown some pearl necklaces. After examing several trays, he decided to buy a particularly fine string of pearls and asked if he could pay 8 check. The assistant said that this was quite in order, 9 the moment my friend signed his name, he was invited 10 the manager"s office.
The manager was very polite, but he explained that someone with exactly the same name had 11 them with a worthless check not long ago. My friend got very angry 12 he heard this and said he would buy a necklace somewhere else. When he got up to go, the manager 13 him that the police would arrive at any moment and he had better stay unless he wanted to get into serious troubles. The police 14 soon afterwards. However they apologized 15 my friend for the inconvenience but explained that the person who had used the same name as his was responsible for a number of recent robberies. Then the police asked my friend to copy out a note which had been used by the thief in a number of shops. The note read "I have a gun in my pocket. Ask no questions and give me all the money in the safe." Fortunately, my friend"s handwriting was quite unlike the thief"s. Then he was allowed to go without delay.