Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-09-28
HOW HE COLLECTED HIS BILL.

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
veigled the credulous Mr.. Bodkin into
printing book For which Quoin had
never paid. But he had promised magnifi-
Gently.
As soon, Mr.. Bodkin, as Ireceive the
$316-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 had
to sell my teeth" And here he showed a
collection that hyena would have envied
for whiteness and hardness. Then
again, Mr.. Bodkin, you hold my wood cuts
amount of your bill Finer collaterals
were never negotiated in Wall Street.
Pooh!' 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 be sold his books, and pocketed the
proceeds. And Mr.. Bodkin had waited
for the money. How often he had written
to Quoin! How he had expostulated, and
coaxed and threatened! How he had Of
fered to take calicoes, Goldfish. potatoes, or
shinele nails, or any other production OF
Ri d. Island. All to no purpose.
Tnen he had put the ac1 ount in law
yer's nands. Quoin was sued, and judg-
meat was had, and execution was issued,
and was returned unsatisfed. Neither Mr..
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 81. 900 no doubt to cut
them; but to us, who don't need them,
and could not use them, worth no more
than firewood" Such security! Bodkin
was growing hysterical.
He laughed aloud, not scornfully, but
exultingly. 1t was the laughter of inspi-
ration For the wood cuts had given him
new notion of how the debt might be
collected With undisguised chuckling,
he put on his hat and went in search of
Mr.. Mallet, a young gentleman of remarka-
bly, persuasive faculties, faultless in dress
moreover, an agent of the Pokomoke
Lottery, and an excellent judge of the
game of pea and thimble. What trans
pired between Bodkin and Mallet is purely
conjectural. But it was odd that Mr.. Bod.
kin should, on his return, have directed
his foreman to print a dozen cards with
this inscription, Henry Mallet, publisher,
No. 1850 Washington Street, Buffalo" !"
Hen. Mallet publisher! Why, even the
feeder-boys laid their fingers aside their
noses 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.c used
in his book Was he disposed to sell
them, or could they be used? To be can
did (and candor was always weakness of
his), he needed them sorely. He had
made arrangements to publish certain
book within three months If it was out
by that time he would make $4,000 sure
if it was delayed 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
what he wanted, but they would serve.
Would he take $50 for the use of them
Quoin smiled at his innocence, and
shook his head 81 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 $500. The most
potent argument Mallet used was his ap-
parently careless production of long,
fiat wallet, filed with new crisp and crack.
ling bank notes, of high figures only, the
sight of which made Mr.. Quoin show the
beautiful white teeth. Mallet was un-
doubtedly cash buyer.
Next came the question of terms
"Would Mr.. Maliet pay 1886 cash, and
take an order on his printer, who would
deliver the cuts on payment of $315.
It was Mallet's turn to smile, and he die
it like the heathen Chinee, "childlike and
bland" What did MIR. Quoin take him
for? He never paid for goods till he had
them. The 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 lawsuit
to be served with attachments and trovers
and replevins and injunctions and games
of that sort? Not much. Mr.. Mallei
tilted himself back in his chair, and looked
upward, as if in quest of relief from the
aDSurQltleS OF QuOln.
Quoin became pensive. It was quite
clear that Mallet would not advance ths
money to pay the printers bill Where
could he get it? But if he did not get it
he would lose the 1886. That was not tt
be thought of. The interview was ad
journed. Quoin went out to hunt up thu
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 tt
buy, he wanted to buy and end the matter
Ii Quoin would go on to New York will
him, he would pay all expenses; but b.
would not pay for the cuts till he hat
them, and with good title. And here b
fourished his wallet.
This was talking business to purpose
and accelerated Quoin's movements. 81
raised the money. That night Quoin an,
Mallet took passage together on tn
steamer, ard next morning found them a
the Astor House. Mallet had proved ex
cellent company. HeEate and drank an
smoked and told good stories, and was a
chatty and confidential with Quoin as
they had been schoolboys together. Blu
with all this, Mallet showed most unae
countable fear that Quoin would give hin
the sip. Quoin had to be very decided t.
when he went to see Bodkin. "He onl
wanted to make sure it was all right" Fo
obvious reasons, Quoin was bound tha
Mallet should not see the interview. an
shook him off resolutely.
shall count the minutes while wal
in this room till you come back" said tn
aggrieved and wistful Mallet, as he cas-
himself upon the sofa.
II will surely be back in half an hour,
said the triumphant Quoin.
It was with exceeding hauteur tbs
Quoin strobe into the office of Bodkin. ri
face was hard, his eyes severe. It was th
grimness of an officer of justice on duty
and the elevation of a lofty mind COZ
scious of right. Mr.. Bodkin, I hav
called to pay your bill. Of course, yo
did not expect it. Nor do you deserve i
Your conduct in dunning me is shameft
perfectly shameful I should feel Just
fed in refusing it altogether. But-prt
duce your bill, sir." And he tugged s
his mustaches and looked defiantly. It'll
uriel himself was not more grand in col
aniouopocc of virf,,o