Mike called me again last week!

He is the most persistent Investment and Mutual Fund salesman I have ever not met. He has an answer for everything I say. He counters my arguments and he takes away all my energy. He saps my strength but I must admit he is very charming and not at all disrespectful in his sales pitches.

When I say I have no money to buy, he pooh-poohs me and pushes forth even more energetically. Some of his ideas are good and some have proved to be utter failures, as I follow them in The Wall Street Journal. I admire his "pushiness" and his inability to take no for an answer. At times I have wished that I could be that single-minded.

There is no set time for his telephone calls. When I am resting in the afternoon (I am retired) he starts his "spiel." Mike," I say, "I have no energy for you. Please don't start into your routine."

He rushes my plea aside and starts rushing at me like a rampaging elephant. I cower on my sofa but to date I have never made a purchase of any stock or bond from Mike. I do not know how I have resisted. Usually I am a patsy for pushy salesmen.

Last week Mike and I reached a crisis of major importance. I was on the Internet when I received his call. Within five seconds he was haranguing and wheedling me to buy a new stock.

* He was going to make me rich!

* I would make 50 percent on my investment!

* Just give me a few thousand dollars to work with. Try me out!"

* "Mike," I cried "I have no money to invest right now. I am sorry."

I heard a tearing sound on his end of the phone.

"Did you hear that?" Mike questioned.

"Yes," I replied. "It sounded like someone shuffling papers." "No," said Mike, "that was me tearing up your index card and throwing it into the round file. Doc, you and I are finished."

I felt hurt and rejected. My telephone buddy had disposed of me and would never call and interrupt my life again. I kind of liked Mike.

Who ever thought it would come to this!