Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-10-17
Hire a Clerk.


A tall. rough-shod. rough .visaged,
good -natured looking Individual arriv-
ed IN our city about week ago, fresh
from the ''mountains. and put up nj
what might be called one OF Gus third
rate houses. The rules were like
those at most other establishment ol
the kind. boarders being taken by the
day, week or meal. jim Potter { we
take the name from the register). had
"gone in" by the week with the un-
derstanding that he was 70 be credited
for what he called "lost time. Pat the
usual rate. There was nothing very
unusual in this. although il did no.
Turn out altogether to the landlords
satisfaction. tlo'
1.-THE end OF the second day. Il oc
cured 10 Jim that he had not seen
Sacramento for upwards Of year.
aad. as thought with him was almost
deed, he. without saying a word to
the landlord. disappeared. He spent
the remainder Of the week a Sacrs-
mento, and reached his boarding
house here just in time to find the pro.
prietor calculating Mr.. Jim Potter
was indebted for one weeks board -
1t didn't take Jim long to prove that
he had been out Of town four days,
and the bill against him was cut down
"See yere. old feller." broke out
Jim. the bill was being altered. "'ef
it's all one to yeou, III take a squinl
at them 'ar books"
There's your account. SIR" said
the landlord, pretending not to notice
Jim's last remark. "Two days
board-s2,62A."
Jim took his bill. and eyeing the
puzzled landlord as though he suspec-
ted some "shenanigan." he broke out.
IL want TO see them 'ar books!" .
The landlord told him he was ask
ing too much--that no outsider was
permitted to examine his books.
Jim was satisfied now that all was
not exactly right, rnd resolved to see
the end Of il. fta
"Give me pen. ink and paper. said
he. want TO show you how to keep
books"
He took the pen. and. after having
added up various small sums, made
out and handed to the amazed land.
lord the following account. l.e ra
Jim Porter 10 Landlord--Deiter tr
.wo dais bord ee62
Landlord TO lin Polter-Dettsr
dais lost time $3.50
"Thar she isl" said Jim, as he pas
sed the slip Of paper across thu count
ef. 'Cordin' TO your own way Of
keepin' books. q feller amt 'lowd
nothin' for lost time" The landlord
said nothing. but gazed with astonish-
ment. "You see," continued jim,
anxious to establish the correctness of
his bill, II tuck board by the week,
you know"
"Yes." muttered the half-choked
landlord. "And the bargain was that
you was to credit me for lost time at
the usual rate. you know. "Yes."
"Well, boarded with you two days.
you know" "Y .e-s." al didn't board
with y"u four days--you see."-
Yes" "And you owe me for
that" The landlord took long breath
brushed the perspiratfon from his face.
and casting his eyes vacantly about
the ceiling. slowly calculated, "0h,
yes" "Now amt going to he hard
on you." said Jim; "you feed very
well--and as I'm gold mp in the coun-
try to- morrow, we'll spend that little
balance fer champagne tonight. But
III tell you one thing. landlord" he
added, after a pause, "you would
make money il you would hire a
clerk" .I.
We are inclined to think ii would
have taken a number Of clerks to
make Jim believe that the landlord
did not owe him for four days board /.
Cal Herald.