Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-10-01


niture and all, and no insurance"
"Well," said the old man, pcttish-
ly, "why didn't he start again ?"
"Start again :" said the communi-
cative landlord "why, bless your
soul, he hasn't got anything to start
with"
"H-m-m Where does this
man live p asked the old man.
He was directed, and ere long was
in conversation with the unfortu-
nate tonsor, who corroboratcd the
landlords story.
"Why don't you take new
shop!" said the old man "there's a
new one in the block right opposite
the other barber shop"
"What ~ said the other, "you
must be crazy. Why that block
belongs to old Billy Gibbons; he'd
never let one of his stores for a
barber shop; they are a mighty
sight too good; besides that, hav-
MT got twenty dollars in the world
to fit it up with"
"You don't know old Billy Glib
bons as well as / do" said he
"Now listen to me. If you can
have that shop all fitted up, rent
free, what will you work in it for
by the month What is the least
you can live on 2"
This proposition somewhat start
led the unfortunate hair-dresser,
who finally found words to stammer
out that perhaps twelve or fifteen
dollars a month would be about
enough.
'Pshaw!" said the old man, "that
won't do. Now listen to me. I'll
give you that store, rent free, one
year, and engage your services six
months, all Oh these conditions =
You are to shave and cut hair for
everybody that applies to you, and
take no pay q; just charge it all to
me, and for your services III pay
YOU twenty dollars month. nava-
ble in advance-pay to begin now,"
continued he, placing two ten dol
lar notes on the table before the as
tonished barber-who, it is almost
unnecessary to state, accepted the
proposition, and who was still more
surprised to learn that it was Billy
Gibbons himself who had hired
him.
In few days the inhabitants of
that village were astonished by the
appearance of splendid new bar
her shop, far surprising the other
in elegance or appointments, and in
which, with new mugs, soaps, ra-
zors aud perfumes, stood barber
and assistant ready to do duty on
the heads and boards of the people.
Over the door was inscribed, evil
liam Harrington, Shaving and Hair
Dressing Saloon"
The people were not long in as
certaining or slow in availing them
selves of the privileges of this es-
tablishment, and it is not to be
wondered at that it was crowded !
and the other deserted. The other
held out for some weeks, suspccting
this free shaving-for Bill kept his
secret wcll-was but dodge to en-
tice customers away, who would
soon be charged as usual but when
at the end of six weeks he found
Billy working away as usual, charg-
ing not cent for his labor, he came
to the conclusion that he must have
drawn a prize in the lottery, or
stumbled upon good mine, and
was keeping barber shop for fun,
so he closed his shop in despair, and
left the place.
Meantime Bill Harrington kept
on busy as bee, and one fine MORN
ing his employer stepped in with
out a word, sat down and was shaw
ed. On rising from his chair he
asked to see the score for the six
months past. The barber exhibit
ed it, and after careful calculation,
the old man said:
"Plenty of customers, eh :"
"Lots of en- said the barber
''never did such a business in my
life."
"Wcll," replied Money Bags, "you
have kept the account well. l see
I've paid you one hundred and
twenty dollars for services-all
right, and there are three hundred
and thirty charged for shaving all
that applied. Now, this furniture
cost one hundred and eight dollars.
Here it is. Now you own this fur
niture, and are to have this shop,