The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-10-14
SELECTED STORY.
Il wv He collected His Bill.

are Vi S0l0, ana more JndH I"o yooio P"o0
die, the sadness changed to grimness. How
Will he remembered the first visit OF delud-
ipg Quoin, when, with a corn basket full OF
Wuod-cuts. SAID to have cost 81 900, he in
V, ialed The creduous Mr.. BoGkIn into print
il a book, for which Quoin had never paid.
But he had promised magniicently.
'As soon, Mr.. Bodkin, as receive the s3lo
and the sales of the book, know, Will not
b less than that every week-you shal nave
tie money. A debt of honor, Mr.. bodk'i:
) GU shall have it if | have to sell my teetn.
And here he showed collection that a hyena
y,u d have enyied for whIteDess and hard.
mss. "Tben again, Mr. Bodkin, you hold
NV woodcuts as security. Worth more than
nice times the amount Of your bill! Finer
cDllaterals were never negotiated in Wall
sheet. Pooh' And he swung his cane
.iound his head, as if to demolish any man
Of opinion that might rise in opposition.
SO Mr.. Bodkin, mach impressed with the
,heioric of MIR. Quoin, although not entirely
convinced, gave up the work, and Quoin went
on his way rejoicing. Went to Rhode Island,
where he sold his books, and pocketeo the
proceeds. AndL MI. Bodkin had waited Tor
lhe money. How often he had written TO
Quoin! How he had eXpostulated, and coaxed
and threatened! How he had tried to make
payments easy ioI Mr.. Quoin. How he had
offered to lake calIcoes, Goldfish, potatoes, or
single nails, or any other production OF
Rhode island. All to no purpose.
Then he had put the amount into law
years hands. Quoin was sued, and judgment
was had, and execution was issued, and was
returned unsatisfied. Neither Mr.. Quoin's
property nor income could be attached. Bod
kin fairly snorted as his eye fell on the ex-
penses of that suit.
Then he thought of that security those
invaluable coaterals-the precious wood cuts
thai hau 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
thousand dollars no DOUBT 10 cut them; but
TO us, who dolI't need them, and could not
use them, worth no more than fire wood
such security! Bodkin was growing hysteri-
cal.
de laughed aloud, not scornfnlly but exult-
in4y. II was the laughter OF inspiration
For the wood cuts had given new notion of
how the debt might be collected. With I'M
disguised chuckllng, he put on his hat, and
went in search of MIR. Mallet, a young gen.
tleman OF remarkably persuasive faculties,
aud fautless in dress-moreover, an agent OF
the Pokomoke lottery, and an excellent Judge
OF the game of pea and thimble. What tran
spIed between Bodkin and Mallet is purely
conjeetural. But 1t was odd that Bodkin
should, on his return, have directed his lore
man TO print dozen cards with this inscrip-
ton: "Henry Mallet, Publisher, No. 2,4oO
Washington Street, Buffalo" Hen. Mallet a
publisher! Why even the feeder-boys LAID
their fingers aside their noses when they read
1t.
Two days after this Mr.. Mallet laid one o.
these cards on the desk of MI. Quoin. anC
begged to inquire OF that gentleman the prob
able value OF the woOd-cuts used in his book
Was he disposed to sell them, or could they
be used? To be candid land candor was al
ways weakness OF hIs,) he needed them sore.
ly. He had made arrangements TO publish a
certain book within three months. Ii it was
out by that time, he would make $4,000 sure
if it was delayed week, the chance of profit
was gone forever. The miserable engravers
wanted three months TO do the work, where
as he could not spare three weeks. Quoin's
cuts were not exactly what he wanted, blu,
they would serve. Would he take $50 for The
use of them?
Quoln smiled at his innocence, and SHOOK
his head. Il don't lend cuts; but will sci
them to you foi $500, and that is cheape
than you can get them made to order"
There was no denying this; but it tool
more than hours hard boring to make Quoi,
abate the price to 5000. The most potent ar
gument Mallet used was his apparently care
less production Of long fiat wallet filled witt
figures only, the sight of which made Mr.
QuOin show his beautiful white teeth. Male
was undoubtedly a cash buyer.
Next came the question of terms. "Would
Mr.. Mallet pay $255 cash, and take an order
on his printer, who would deliver the cuts Oh
payment OF $315w
1t was Mallet's turn 10 smile, and he did il
like the heather Chinee, "child-lke and
bland" What did Mr.. Quoin take hira for
De never paid tor goods till he had them.
The idea OF paying for cuts he had not seen "a
yet. and Of settling up Quoin's bills was alb
surd! Under no circumstances whateye
would he take the cuts, until he saw the re
celpted bills OF both engraver and printer
Was he to buy lawsuit? to be served witt
attachments, and trovers, and replevins. an,
injunctions, and games of that Sort? No
much. Mr.. Mallet tilted himself back in hi
chair, and looked upward, as in quest of relic
from The absurdities OF Quoin.
Quoin became pensve. 1t was quite clea
that Mallet would not advance the money t.
pay the printers bill. Where could he Get il
But if he did not get it, he would lose th,
$3.50. This was not to be thought Of Th,
interview was adjourned. Quoin went out L
hunt up the money, much to the annoyance
OF Mallet, who could not conceal his appre
tensions that Quoin was about to refuse t,
sell. SWhen Mallet had made up his mind t,
buy, he wanted to buy and end the matter
If Quoln would go on to New York with him
he would pay all expenses but he would no
pay for the cuts till he had them, and with
good title. And here he fourished his wa
let.
This was talking business TO purpose, an
accelerated Quoin's movements. He raise
the money. That night Quoin and Male
took passage together on the steamer, an,
next morning found them at the AstOr House
Mallet had proved excellent company. HI
ate aud smoked and told good stories, and
was as chatty and confidential with Quoin az
if they had been school-boys together. But
with all this, Malet showed most unaccount
able fear that Quoin would somehow or Other
disappoint him; he was evidently afraid thai
Quoln would give him the slip. Quon had Il
be very decided to prevent Mallet from &C
companying him when he went TO see Bod
kin. "Ile only wanted to make sure it was
all right" For obvious reasons, Quon wa:
bound that Mallet should not see the inter
view, and shook him off resolutey.
Il shall count the minutes while 1 wait in
this room till you come back" said the ag
2reved and wistful Mallet, as he cast him
self upon the sofa.
Il Wih surely be back in half an hour" said
the triumphant Quoin.
1t was with exceeding hauteur that Quoir
strobe into the Office of Bodkin. His face
was haId, his eyes severe. 1t was the grim
ness of an officer of justice on duty, and tn
elevation of lofty mind conscious of right
"Mr. Bodkin, L have called to pay your bill
o. course, you did not expectit. Nor do yol
deserve it. Your conduct in dunning me il
shameul-perlectly shameful. should fee
justified in refusing it altogether. But-pro
moustaches, and looked detiantly. Ithurie
himself was not more grand in consciousness
OF virtCre.
The surprised and crestfallen Bodkin fun
bled in his drawers for the bill, and at length
produced it. spasm disgust fitted over
Quoin's face as he saw the hideous total, with
two years interest and legal expenses. BuI
he had made up his mind TO make an impress,
sion, and he did it. How il wrenched hin
nobody but Quon can imagine. He told
down the money in full and secured his re-
ceipt with great delibeFation.
"Now, Mr. Bodkin, obige me by packing
up those wood cuts, and delivering them to
the porter"
surely, MI. Quoin, you will not remove
those cuts so precipitately" said the penitent
Bodkin. Up went Quoin's cane most mepac-
ingy. "Not all hour, sir-not an hour, sir
want those cuts now, sir, noWr
Ihere was no resisting this impetuositv,
The cuts were produced, examined, and
checked. Quon sailed out of Rodkin's office
gloriously, with bis porter Juggling at the bun
die, like man-of-war protecting merchant
man.
IL was but few minutes to get back to the
Astor House. Here was vexation. The door
OF the room in which he had left Nal ct was
locked. Down to the clerks Office flew the
irate and impatient Quon.
where's my friend and roommate, NAL
let, of 1902"
"Malei ?-Yes, yes! Malet, is itP Why,