The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-10-22
.sETT1NG THINGS UP STEEP"

z-f-- -sfss-T
"Ahl Bob, how are You, and when
did you arrive?" s,a
"First rate-day before yesterday.
By the way, announce my arrival; set
things up steep; it may enable me to
make ten-strike.' E''- s-t
al viii do so with pleasure
The next morning the Tomahawk of
Freedom contained the following pink
tinged announcement: sa '..z
Among the arrivals by the steamer
Europe, yesterday, was our esteemed
friend, Robert Gasbag, formerly of
this city. During the last ten years,
Mr.. Gasbag has been resident of
Australia, where he has amassed a
fortune ofnabobical proportions. Mr..
g. is stopping at the Irving House for
few days. Next week he leaves for
the Vest, for the purpose of purehas-
ing a'couple of copper mines."
Among tile earlier readers of this
notice was rsOld Slocum," of Hart
ford. When he first run his eyes over
it, he could scarcely. credit his senses.
What" said he; "Gasbag mill
ionaire-wen, that is news. I must
inform neighbor Smith of his rare
good fortune, and take the necessary
steps for securing that due-bill."
The steamboat that left Hartford
that night had ON its register the
names of Jedediah Slocum and Tib-
ulation Smith. The next morning the
passengers aforesaid might have been
seen in the reception room of the H.
wing. '''-''''
= 'Anybody stopping here by the
name of Gasbag?"
eyes, sir; Robert Gasbag, the mill
ionaire, from Australia-you will find
him in Parlor No. 1, first floor, 'front.'
ing Broadway" Gag
Siocum and Smith ascended to the
:" first floor" They also entered ':Par-
lor No. 1 fronting Broadway"
" " Mr.. Gasbag, Ibelieve.'' fe 1o1
'" Yes, Sir; Gasbag, from Austria.
lia.n s,'
g Formerly of Hartford?"
Hartfefd'-ye-as, I believe 1 did
stop there for month or So" si
>"And during that month OF so you
contracted suhdry debts which you
were forced to leave town unliqui-
dated. One of these debts is held by
me, and the other by my friend Smith.
They amount to five hundred and
thirty dollars, and we should very
much like to write received payment
at the bottom" a e5jt r
Z Really, gentlemen, you take me
the debt is unquestiona-
bly, an honest one, but 1 lack means to
it." .a r':5sa
"That won't do, my dear sir. You
are rolling in wealth-so much so that
the very newspapers have to notice
your vast possessions" Here Slocum
took out the Tomahawk of Freedom
and read that "steep notice " to which
we have already referred. "Mr. Gas
bag, it won't do; you are man of
means, and must shell out. If you
have not the ready, you must make us
an assignment of some property that
will place the debt beyond contin-
gency." ED.
hBut, my dear sir ,a-. .4au
@There is no but about it. You
must pay up or make an assignment,
Or we will Immediately hand you over
to the care of the sheriff" .i
What could Gasbag do? Surrounded
by unexpected calamity, he made
virtue of necessity, took pen, ink and
paper and assigned to Smith and Slo-
,um, ''their heirs and assigns" all that
certain piece and parcel of property
Known as Meadow Dale Farm" in
W,estchester county. In less than an
lour lour after Gasbag had executed that
document he. was en- route for Canada,
o prevent an arrest for fraudulent as
ignment. /
sAfoRAL.-Neveras ask an editor to "set
5ou up steep1 till you are quite sure
hat certain creditors and bills are
lead. Gasbag had been to Australia,
'ut instead of coming back million
ire, he returned "busted up and done
or" He thought a good puff would
tut him on his legs again-and so it
lid, if we have any regard for the
way he struck out for Montreal. Re-
member his fate. Never crow till YOU
re out of the woods.