South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-09-29
HOW HE COLLECTED HIS BILL.

!ecger. As he turned over the leaf that
disclosed the account of Mr.. Quoin, with
an unsettled balance of $315.00, and more
than two years past due, the sadness
changed to grimness. How well he re-
membered the first visit of deluding
QuoIn, when, with a ~corn-basket full of
wood-cuts, said to have cost $1,000, he in
weighed the credulous Mr.. Bodkin into
printing a book. For which Quoin had
never paid. But he had promised magnii-
Gently.
As soon, Mr.. Bodkin, as receive the
$3l6-and the sales of the book, I KNOW,
Will not be less than that every week-you
shall have the money. A debt of honor,
Mr. Bodkin. You should have it, if l had
co sell my teeth" And here he showed a
collection that a hyena would have envied
for whiteness and hardness. "Then
again, Mr. Bodkin, you hold my wood-cuts
as security. Worth three times the
amount of your bill Finer collaterals
were never negotiated in Wall Street.
Poohi' And he swung his cane around
his head, as if ready to demolish any man
or opinion that might rise In opposition.
So Mr.. Bodkin, much impressed with
the rhetoric of Mr.. Quoin, went on his way
rejoicing. Quoin went to Rhode Island,
where he sold his books, and pocketed the
proceeds. And Mr.. Bodkin had waited
Tor the money. How often he had written
TO Quoinl How he had expostulated, and
coaxed and threatened How he had Of
fered to take c~alicoes, Goldfish, potatoes, or
single nails, or any other production Of
Ri d, Island. Ali to no purpose.
Then he had put the account in a law
yer's hands. Quoin was sued, and judg-
ment was had, and execution was issued,
and was returned unsatisfed. Neither Nh.
Quoin's property nor income could be at
tached- Bodkin fairly snorted as his eye
fell upon the expenses of that suit.
Then he thought of that security
those invaluable collaterals-the precious
wood-cuts that had cost $1,000. Bodkin
had hawked them at every publisher in
the city, only to get substantially the same
answer from all. GOOD cuts; of course
they are. Worth a $1,000 no doubt to cut
them; but to us, who don't need them,
and could not use them, worth no more
than frewood." Such security Bodkin
was growing hysterical.
lie laughed aloud, not scornfully, but
exultingly. 1t was the laughter of inspi-
ration. For the wood-cuts had given him
a new notion of how the debt might be
collected. With undisguised chuckling,
~ PaN Oa liz A1G oAA h0AI LII III VI
Mr.. Mallet, a young gentleman of remarka-
bly, persuasive faculties. ~faultless in dress
moreover, an agent of the Pokomoke
Lottery, and an excellent JUICE Of the
game of pea and thimble. Whist rams
pired between Bodkin and Mallet is purely
c~onJectural. But it was odd that Mr.. Bod
kn should, on his return, have directed
his foreman to print a dozen cards with
this inscription, Henry Mallet, publisher,
NO. 2,450 Washington Street, Buffalo"
Hen. Mallet a publisherl Why, even the
feeaer-boys laid their fingers aside their
loses when they read it.
Two days after this Mr.. Mallet laid one
of these cards on the desk of Mr. Quoin,
and begged to inquire of that gentleman
the probable value Of the wood-cuts used
in his book. Was he disposed to sell
them, or could they be used? To be can
did land candor was always a weakness of
his, he needed them sorely. He had
made arrangements to publish a certain
book within three months. If it was out
by that time he would make $4,000 sure
if it was delayed a week his chance of
profit was gone forever. The miserable
'engravers wanted three months to do the
work, whereas he could not spare three !
weeks. Qaoin's cuts were not exactly |
"A1 AC ddubCQ, U1t luCJ hOulu 6ClN VIC. |
Would he take $50 for the use of them?
Quoin smiled at his innocence, and
shook his head. az don't lend cuts; but
I will sell them to you for $500, and that
is cheaper than you can get them made to
order"
There was no denying this: but it took
more than an hours hard boring TO make
Quoin abate the price to 5000. The most
potent argument Mallet used was his ap-
parently careless production of a long,
hat wallet, filed with new crisp and crack
ling bank-notes, of high figures only, the
sight of which made MI. Quoin show the
beautiful white teeth. Mallet was IN
doubleday q cash buyer.
Next came the question of terms.
Would Mr.. Mallet lpsy $2s5 cash, and
take an order on his printer, who would
deliver the cuts on payment of $315.
1t was Mallets turn to smile, and he did
it like the heather Chinee. childlike and
bland" What did Mr.. Quoin take him
for? He never paid for goods till he had
them. TIE idea of paying for cuts he had
not seen as yet, and of settling up Quoin's
bills was absurd Under no circumstance
whatever would he take the cuts, until he
saw the receipted bills of both the engrav-
er and printer. Was he to buy a lawsuit?
to be served with attachments and trovers
and replevins and injunctions and games
OF that sort? Not much. Mr.. Mallet
tilted himself back in his chair, and looked
upward, as If IN quest of relief from the
sbsurdities Of Quoin.
QuoIn became pensiye. It was quite
clear that Mallet would not advance the
money to pay the printers bill. Where
could he get it? But if he did not get it,
he would lose the $285. That was not to
be thought of. The interview was ad-
Journed. Quoin went out to hunt up the
money, much to the annoyance of Mallet,
who could not conceal his apprehension
that Quoin was about to refuse to sell.
When Mallet had made up his mind to
buy, he wanted to buy and end the m..Uer.
II Quoln would go on to New York with
him, he would pay all expenses; but he
would not pay for the cuts till he had
them, and with agood title. And here he
hourished his wallet.
This was talking business to purpose.
and accelerated Quoin's movements. He
raised the money. That night Quoin and
Mallet took passage together on the
steamer, and next morning found them at
the Astor House. Mallet had proved ex-
cellent company. HeEate and drank and
smoked and told good stories, and was as
chatty and confidential with Quoin as il
they had been ~schoolboys together. But
with all this, Msllet showed q most unac-
countable fear that Quoin would give him
the slip. Quoin had to be very decided to
prevent Msllet from accompanying him
when he went to see Bodkin. "He only
wanted to make sure it was all right" For
obvious reasons, Quoin was bound that
Mallet should not see the interview, and
shook III off r~esolutely.
~ shall count the minutes while I wait
in this room till you come back" said the
aggrieved and wistful Mallet, as he cast
himself upon the sofa.
81 will surely be back in half an hour"
sai0 the triumphant Quoin.
1t wa with exceeding hanteur that
Quoin strobe into the Office of Bodkin. his
face was hard, his Eyes severe. TWAS the
grimness of an officer of Justice on duty,
and the elevation of q lofty mind con-
scious of right. "Mr. Bodkin, 1 have
called to pay your bill. OF course, you
did not expect is. Nor do you deserve it.
Your conduct in dunning me is shameful
perfectly shameful. l should feel justi-
fed in refusing it altogether. But-prc-