The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1876-10-13
Selected Story.
SHAVING A MILLIONAIRE.

1t seems that Billy, while in countr,
village, in which he owned some property
stepped into barber's shop to gejshaved
The shop was full Of customers, and the
old gentleman quietly waited for his turn
A customer who was under the barber's
hands when the old gentleman came in,
asked the man Of the razor, in an under
tone, if he knew who that was, and on re,
ceiving a negative reply informed him in a
whisper that it was cold Billy Gibbons,
the richest man in the State"
"Gad," said the barber, "I'll charge him
for his shave"
Accordingly after the old man had ha
the operation performed, he was somewhat
surprised upon asking the price, to be told
seventy five cents.
"Seventy-fye cents" said he quietly,
"isn't that rather high price ?"
'It's my price" said he of the lather
brush, i dependently, "and as this is the
only BARRIERS shop in the place, them that
comes INTO 1t must pay what ask"
To the old gentleman this was quite a
knock-down argument. He drew three
quarters Of dollar from his pocket, paid
them over to the barber, and left the shop.
A short time afterwards he was in close
conversation with the landlord Of tavern
hard by, and the topic Of the conversation
was barber shops.
why is /, s. said he there's only one
barber shop in town There seems to be
nearly enough work for two
"WelI, there used to be two," said the
landlord, ''till last winter when this new
man came from the city, and opened new
shop, and as everything initwas fresh and
new, folks kinder deserted Bill Harring
toms shop, and commenced going to the
new one"
"But didn't this Bill do good work /?
Didn't he shave well and cb,ap?"
"Well, as for that" said the landlord,
"Bill did his work well enough, but his
shop wasn't on the main street, like the
new one, and didn't have so many pictures
and handsome curtains, and folks got in
to the way of thinking that the new chap
was more scientific and brought more city
fashions with him, though to tell the
truth, said the landlord, stroking chin
sown with a beard resembling screen wire,
81 never want lighter touch or keener
razor than Bill Harrington s"
"City fashions, b?" growled the old
man. $50 the new mans city fashions
shut up the other barber shop
"Well, not exactly" said the landlord,
though things never seemed to 90 well
after the new shop opened first, one Of
his children died Of fever; then his wife
was sick for long time, and Bill had
very large bill to pay at the doctors; then
as last misfortune, his shop was burned
down one night-brushes, tools, furniture
and all-and no insurance"
"Well" said the old man, pettishly,
"why don't he start again r.
"Start again, said the communicative
landlord "why, bless your soul, he hasn't
anything to start with"
"H-m! Where does this man llve?"
asked the old man.
He was directed, and ere long was in
conversation with the unfortunate toutor,
who corroborated the landlord 's story.
"Why don't you take the new shop?"
said the old man. There's new one in
the block right opposite the other barber
shop"
What" said the other, you must be
crazy. Why, that belongs. to old Billy
Gibbons he'd never let one Of those stor-
les for barber shop-they are mighty
sort too good besides that, | haven TWEEN
ty dollars in the world to fit it up with
"You don't know Billy Gibbons as | do, !"
responded the other "Now listen. If you
could have the shop fitted up, rent free,
what will you work in i for, BY the month
What is the least you can live on
The proposition somewhat startled the
unfortunate hairdressor, who finally found
words to stammer cut that perhaps twelve
or fifteen dollars month would he about
enough.
"Pshawl" said the old man, "that won't
o. Now listen to NELL give you that
store, rent free, for one year, and engage
your services for six months, all on these
conditions. You are to shave and cut hair
1of everybody that applies to you, and take
no pay; just charge it all to me, and for
5ouf services I will pay you twenty dol