The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-11-14
A Landlord Outwitted.

A correspondent of the Philadelphia Pres
relates the following anecdOte Of one Of tn,
citizens Of Lock Haven, Pa Ben. w. Nor
rison is the person spoken Of, and is said Il
be one Of those free and easy, good
humorous fellows, that are always ready to
crack joke or perpetrate a " SELL"
| Some fifteen years ago Ben was travelling
in Butler County, on professional business
! The roads were tolcraby bad and, worst OF
all, the stage.drivers and the landlord at .
certain hotel, where they stopped for din
ner, had an understanding with each other
something like this: The passengers were to
be taken in to dine, and when cleverly seat
ed, the coach would furiously dash up to the
door, and the driver would call for his pas
sengers, stating that he could not delay a
minute on account of making his time
They rushed out, leaving their meals half
finished, for fear Of being left. For the half
| finished meal they were charged half dol
lar. The victuals were kept for the next
load of passengers, when the skinning pro-
cess was repeated.
Ben had heard Of this place, and when
they arrived at the hotel he set his wits to
work to see if he could not get the full value
of his money. The bell rang for dinner and
the crowd rushed in. They had hardly got
up at the door, and the driver vociferously
shouted:
Passengers all aboard-can't wait but
five minutes"
A general rush was made, but Ben sat
still, and ate his dinner very composedy.-
The stage drove off and lef, him, but he
seemed 10 care very little about it.
Having disposed OF his dinner, he was en-
joylng the luxury Of a long nine in the side
room, when the landlord approached him,
saying:
Il beg your pardon, sir; but did you see
set of silver teaspoons on the table when
you went to dinner:'
Il did, sir"
"Well, they are missing-can't be found"
"Ah! yes" replied Ben, lone of the
passer gers gathered them up-l saw him
DO it."
"Wor!d you know him again" gasped
the landlord.
"Certainly l would" replied Ben, with
great coolness.
"Will you point him out to me, If hitch
up my horse and buggy aud overtake the
stages'
Certainly will"
Boniiace was ready in few minutes, and,
getting Ben in with him, drove like Jehu for
seven miles, TIL he overlook the coach. lie
drove up alongside and hailed the driver
The coach stopped, the driver looked fright
ened, and everybody wondered to see the
landlord covered with mud, and his horses
foaming with sweat.
Ben jumped out of the buggy and got into
the stage. when the driver, thinking that he
had hired the landlord to bring him after,
vas on the point Of driving off, when the
latter yelled out
"Is that passenger in tbere,'
"les," replied Ben.
/" Are you sure"
ayes, sir-c-e,' shouted our bachelor friend
(Which one is t,'
It's Inc" replied Ben, with grin.
You" thundered Boniface, "whst the
devil did you do with them spoons:"
II put them in the coffee pot, may it
please your honor; you will find them all
safe" replied Ben, with curious twinkle Of
his eve.
Sold, by ginger, by that darned Yam
kee." yelled the landlord, while the passen-
gers roared with laughter, and putting the
whip to his horse drove back, resolving to
give the passengers ever afterwards ample
time for dinner.