The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-05-26
HTO ADVANTAGE

credit, and afterward decamped with
out paying for Them. The Quaker was
TOO poor to lose the debt; but like too
many others OF his cloth he had ap-
pareutly no other alternative. The ac-
count was placed OIL his books, aud soon
forgotten. About five years afterward
he WAS. examining his old records Of
debt and credit, profit and loss, when
his attention was attrac. ed to this ao-
count, aud all the circumstances at
tending it came fresh TO his mind. Sud
denly an odd thought suggested itself.
"Pil try an experiment." said he to
himself; "perhaps L may succeed in
catching the rogue and getting my
pay"
He Immediately prepared an adver-
tisement, in substance as follows, which
be inserted in the Kent Herald:
at Mr.. Henry Webber, who was in
Canterbury about the mouth of August,
in the year 1858. will, send his address 10
to editor Of this paper, he Will lear OF
something to advantage" "
Having instructed the editor not to
disclose, his name to the rogue if he
should call, but to request the latter to
leave his address, the Quaker patiently
| awaited the resElt OF MS experiment.
In short time he was informed by a
| note from the editor that the individual
| alluued to in the advertisement, having
arrived from London, might be found at
| the 'Kpse HOTEL" ... ..
The tailor lost no. time in preparing
| transcript Of his account, not forgetting
| to charge interest from the time the debt
was incurred. Taking a balliff with
him, who bore legal process suited to
the occasion, he soon arrived at the
| lodgings Of the swIndler. The bailitf
was instructed to stand of at a little
distance till a signal should indicate the
lime tor him TO approach.
The Quaker now entered the coffee
room and rang the bell; and when the
sci Want appeared, requested him TO In.
| form the gentleman OF whom he was in
search, that friend wished to speak
with him. The waiter obeyed the sum-
nous, and soon both debtor and creditor
were looking each other in the face.
| "How dosL tnou doT kindly inquired
the Quaker, in a blaud one. "Pernaps
thou dosJ not know meW
Il believe L have not had the pleasure
of your acquaintance" politely an
IsweFed our hero, with a forced smile.
"Dost thou remember purchasing a
suit of clothes several years ago Of a
poor tailor IN this city, and forgetting to
pay for tbem?" asked the Quaker.
so, mol" SAID the gentleman, blushing
lslignLly; ''you must be mistaken in the
iperson. 1t can not possibly be me that
you wished to ind." ~,
4 But The Quaker was not to be shaken
off by this uenial OF his debtors identity.
"Ah, J0hn! l know thee well. Thou
art the very man wished to see. Thou
hast ON at this moment the very waist
lcoat tnatI made for thee. Tnou must
ackno wledge it Was of good stuff and
wall naup il pOull nIt haya
thee so long,
son, yes" said the gentleman, ap-
pearing suddenly TO recolIect himself !;
Il do remember now the circumstance
to which you allude. Yes, yes-l had ill.,
tended W call and SETTLE that litIe bill
before leaving Canterbury, aud you may
depend ON my doing so. L have come
mere TO take possession OF large amount
of property which has iallen Lo me by
will. Seel here is the advertisement
which apprised me of my good fortune"
Here he handed to the Quaker copy
, of the paper containing Lue advertise
ment whose history we have given
, above. The Qlaker looked at it With
imperturable gravity, and continued:
TYe., see thou art in luck; but as
: nv demand is very small one, l think
f must insist on payment before thou
: comest III possession ot thy large rs.
lates."
A tap at the window here brought the
county court bailitt into the presence o
: the parties. Tue swindler was parlicu.
larIy astonished at the appearance Of
this functiouary, who immediately be
gan to execute his part OF tie drama.
n "WhaLW exclaimed the rogue, in an
= angry tone, ''you surely haven't sueo
meW
4, yes have" replied the Quaker
, ssanu thou shouldst be thanklui tha
+ nothing worse has happened to tnee."
"Come in, then," said the debtor, find
a ing himself fairly caught; "come in, ant
1 will pay yeu ii must"
| The three went into the house to
getner, and the slippery gentleman hay
ing ascertained the amount OF the bill
maid it in full. The tailor having signel
; the receipt, placed it in the hands Of his
late creditor, with feelings such al
: may be readily imagined. The sWindle
y took it, and and for the first time
i glanced at the various items OF which i
: was composed. He said nothing till b,
came 10 The last charge, which was SO
adverLisiug;" when he broke forth:
i "Hallo! what's this? For adyertis
u ingT Thaps an odd charge III tailor.
. bill. YOU'RE cheating me-"
"Oh, no." coolly replied the Quaker
> "that is all right. l nave charged the
the cost of publishing the advertise
u, ment which thou just showed me-"
a Here the swlnuler sayagoly de
II manded:
y "Do you mean to say that you cause,
y the publication Of that advei easement?
l. "lruly l did" replied the Quaker
= with most provoking coolness.
+ You told great ialsehood in i'll!
8 quickly retorted the rogue.
g "Convince me OF that" said the in
4 perturbable Quaker, "and thou wilt tht
Il me ready TO confess the fault"
u "You said in your advertisement tha
i 1 should hear OF something to my advan
o tage ii would come here"
e "Thou art Mistaken" Immediately re
= sponded the Quaker; 81 only PROMISE
tnat thou snouldst hear Of some thing t
advantage, and is it not TO the adVal
tage OF a poor tailor to collect an oil
j. aeDtT
IS "If l catch you in the street," said tn
a swindler, in the deepest rage, '''ll CIV
!, you suoh tnrashing as will not leav
+ the breath in your bodyV
q nNOnsense nOWp' said the Quaker