The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-05-15
HOW A GRANGER oUTwITTED A
NCNEy-LENDER.

S,ys tie L.vington XVI Gazette: A
ftriner-we sh u cal him Smith fol
short-,iveS ia NtdiSon county. and
would he known, ut least by reputation
to many of our readers were his right
name given. But the incident we now
relate, though coming to us in a reliable
way, was known TO few outside of his
neighborhood. Farmer Smsth lived in
quiet way, and was supposed to have
accumulated something ahead, besides
havinga pretty good farm. After his
| second son had been married about a
| year, lie concluded TO settle near the
! old mans, if he could rent place.
Hearing OF this, Mr.. ThOmpsOn-we
| again withhold the true name-thought
| there might be Il chance TO sell a certain
| place on pretty fair terms. Mr. ThOmp-
son was IA money-lender, and nothing
suited him so well as good interest. back
ed by good security; and he was, more
over, generally considered pretty
slIrewd trader. He rode over to see the
old man Smith, but the farmer said he
did not feel able to buy-he might buy
OH credit if the price was low enough
and the interest was Lot too high His
son ''Jakey, he said, would have to paw
for the farm himself, if the trade was
made, but his son was a good farmer,
and, he thought, it would be all right
at least the land would be there, and
would be good for what remained un-
paid if his son should fail. What SEEM
ed to startle the old fellow was twelve
per cent. interest that Thompson want
ed.
Finally, however, after great deal of
talk, the price was agreed on at $40, 900,
One-tifth cash, and notes at one, two,
three, and four years with twelve per
cent. interest from date for the remain
der. The contract was drawn, and they
were about to sign, when the farm er
suggested that if he should at any time
get any more money than was due on
the notes he wanted to be allowed to pay
it and count off the twelve per cent.
The proposition seemed reasonable
enough to Thompson. and he could not
object to its insertion in the contract,
and so the contract was signed in dupli-
cate. The deed was to be ready, the
notes drawn, and the first payment made
on the following Saturday.
When the time arrived, both were
punctually on hand, the first 81, 900 was
paid, and the notes were ready for sig
nature. Mr.. Thompson" said Farmer
Smith, 'I've been thinking about that
interest, and it seemed skerry, so |
thought I'd gather in some little money
/ had out, and pay part of it, and
pulling from his breast pocket roll of
mOney'-''iist count that"
The money was counted, and, with
twelve per cent. OF, the first note was
paid.
When Thompson had pOcketed the
money, again Smith said: 1--WE got a
son livin' in Missouri, Mr. Thompson,
and as soon as he heard | was buyin'
farm for Jakey, he sent me little mon
ey--pulling roll from his right-side
brpeches pocket land so whatever it is
we'll credit it on the next note, If you
have no objection Again the money
was counted, and with twenty-four per
cent. OFF, just paid the note to a cent.
well, that's luck, resumed the old
man: ''and now, Mr. Thompson, the old
woman has been selling right smart of
butter and eggs, and some chickens now
and then, when they come round the
country buying. and she told me this
mornin' that better take what she had
and maybe it wouldn't come amiss. A
roll was produced from the left side
breeches pocket and when counted, Just
paid the third note after the thirty-six
per cent. was deducted, and Thomson
said not a word. Smith seemed to be
considering for some minutes, and then
raising his head said as though a sudden
thought struck him: You knOwed my
darter Sal, didn'tye Leastwise you've
seen her. Sal was a fine gal. About
five years ago at hog killing time, one o.
my hands tuck sick. and what does Sal
do but turn in and help us, and | tell
you, she could sling hog across her
shoulders equal to any man on the
ground. Well, you know, Sal married
year before last, and her husband Hib-
bell-yOu know Hibbell-is dOin' they
tell me as good grocery business as any
man in kirksvilP. Jakey, he went over
to see Sal and IIibbell the other day, and
they was talkin' about this here interest
business, and Sal says to Hibbell, says
She
Never mind what they said Mr..
Smith,, broke in Mr.. Thompson, lust |
hand over the money you were going to
say they sent you And sure enough !
the old man produced still another roll |
from some secret pocket which when |
counted, proved to be the exact amount !
necessary to pay off the last note, when |
per cent. had been duly taken
off.
Thompson pOcketed the money, went
to the Court House, ackowledg- |
ed the deed, and handed it over with on
~ this remark: You're the d-st old |
rascal ever saw