The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-22
The Loeksnith s Chance,

Bank oMesrs Who Were willing to Pay for Talent.
Pat Lyon, the great locksmith of his
gay, was often sent for by presidents OF
banks and other great people, and he
rather liked the idea of keeping the great
| people waiting. So one morning Pat
said he would come as soon as he had
done his breakfast, which happened to be
| great deal later than usual this partic-
| ular morning
Pretty soon came the second messen-
ger for Pat from the bank president, and
SO Pat started off with messenger No. 2.
When he reached the bank he found the
president and cashier and clerks all In a
fret and fume. They couldn't open the
safe to get the money out for the busi-
OF the day; something or other was the
matter with the lock.
Pat was bald-headed, and had habit
OF rubbing his hands on his pate, thus
really rubbing his hair away He wore
spectacles as general thing, but when
he was particularly DESTROYS of looking
at anything, or was particularly excited,
he took his spectacles off his eyes and
fixed them on his forehead
He now rubbed his hands over his
head a minute, put his spectacles over
his forehead, looked at the lock half q
minute, worked at it with his tools a
minute or two, and the lock was fixed
all right and the safe was ready to open.
The President was delighted and so
was the cashier. They shook hands
with Pat, who received their salutations
with a good deal of style.
"And now, Mr.. Lyon" asked the
President, 'swhat is your charger
Pat put up his speetacles q little high
er, just little, and said:
''One hundred dollars
'sWhat! One hundred dollars for less
than three minutes work, Mr. Lyon?
Why this is outrageous said the Presi-
dent
1T is extortion,'' said the cashier.
"Ad right, said Pat Lyon, rubbing
his hands over his head, and then put
ting his spectacles a~Htttle higher over
his head-just little. you wont give
work. And I'll leave things as I found
them" Here he took hold of the lock,
and circusing with it, got it out of gear,
as it was first, and so left the safe in
precisely the same unopenable condition
as he found it. Then he started to go
home.
But the president and cashier, appre-
ciating the situation, seeing what a fix
they were in, begged Pat to let up on
them, and fix the lock SO they could
open the safe.
'sNow, be reasonable in your char
ges; do, Mr.. Lyen," said the bank pres
ident
1.-TWO hundred dollars,'' said Pat, rub
bing his head and raising his spectacles
once more.
''Why, this is downright robbery
cried the President.
might as well break into the safe, as
open it at that rate remarked the CASH
Ter.
IAN right" said Pat, circusing with
the lock rapidly, before any body could
prevent him, and then banging the safe
door to. leaving it for the third time
Theoretically sealed.
By this time the President had his
mad up. He ordered Pat out of his
Office, and sent for rival blacksmith.
He came quick enough, and worked and
fused long and hard enough, but he
didn't fix the lock, and he couldn't open
the safe. And it got to be nearly 10
O'Clock, and no money available yet.
In despair the third messenger was
after Pat Lyon, who came
back with lot of extra dignity.
''Open that at your own terms, Mr..
Patrick Lyon said the President.
Pat rubbed his head, put his spectac-
les way up on his forehead, and opened
the safe.
Now your terms, - said the President.
Three hundred dollars,'' said Pat.
The cashier protested, but the Presi-
dent paid the money. why he will
ask for 800 next time,' remarked the
President to the cashier.
Excuse me-, said Pat with dignity,
s'but my terms next time viii be $780,
And Pat rubbed his head and took his
check without word. He was master
of the situation. and he knew It.