The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1881-11-17
The Independent Locksmith.

The Independent l0cksmith.
Pat Lyon, the gre,t lock,mith OF
his day. was often sent for by presi
dents Of banks auI other great peo
pie, aul he rather likel the idea Of
keeping the great people waiting
SO one IN )rnin3 Pat said he woll
come as soon as he hal done his
breakfast, which happened to bo
good deal later than usuil this p.r~
tic lar morning.
Pretty soon came second mes
senger for Pat fro the bink pre-
sident, aud so Pat started off with
messenger No. 2. When he reached
the bunk he found the presid eut and
cashier aud clerks all in fret and a
fume. They c1uldn't open tho safe
to get the IN )ney out for the bns!-
ness Of the day something Or other
was the matter with the lock. They
we're in q deal OF o stew. and hailed
Pat on his arrival with delight, for
now they could open the lock.
Pat was b.ld-headed, ani hal q
habit OF rubbing his hands on his
pate, thus reilly rubbing his h.ir
away. lie wore spectacles as a gen
eral thing, bat when he was parti-
cnlarly desirous Of looking at any.
thing, or was particularly excited,
he took his spectacles off his eyes
and fSed them over his forehead.
IIe now rubbed his hands over
his head minute, put his spectacles
over his forehead, looked at the lock
half minnie, or two, anl the lock
was lixa all ri sht aul the safe was
ready to open.
Tue president was delighted. So
was the cashier. They shook hands
with Pat, who received their saluta'
tious with good deal Of style.
"And now Mr.. Lyon" asked th,
president, "whst is your charge =
Pat put up his spectaoles littl,
higher, just little, and said
"One hundred dollars
"What One huudrel dollars for
less than three minutes work, Mr..
Lyon Why this is outrageous,
said the president.
1T is extortiou," said tho cashier
"/lll right" said Pat Lyon, rub
bing his hand over his head, aud
then putting his spectacles q little
higher over his forehea Just a
little. "You won't give me my
money! won't give you my work.
And I'll leave things as found
taem." Here be took hold OF the
Lock, and circussing with it, got i
out of gear, as it WAS first, au | 50
left the safe in precisely the sane
unopenable condition as he found it
Then he started to go home.
But the president and tho cashier
appreciating the situation, seeing
what fix they were in, b,ggel Pat
to let up on them. aud fix the lock
so they could open the safe.
Pat complied with their request,
but still kept his hand on the safe
door. 1t was all ready to open, but
wasn't yet opened.
"Now, be reasonable in your
charges do, Mr.. Lyon said tho
bank president.
1.-TWO hundred dollars" sail Pat
rubbing his head aud raising his
spectacles once more.
"Why, this is downright robbery
cried the president.
"Might as we'll break into the safe
as open II at that rate" remarked
the cashier.
"All right" said Pat, ciroussing
with the look rapidly, before any
body could prevent him. and then
banging the safe door TO, leaving i,
for the third time hermetically seal.
Cd.
ny this time the president had
his mad up. lie ordered Pat out ol
the office. and sent for Q rival black
smith. lie came quick enough, ani
.orko 4 and r., ssa.1 lAnU anouOh anf