Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-04-13
The LOckzmith's Chance.
Rsnt oass, Who w.rs wiling 70 F.rfsr Talsu.

Bank ohssTs Who Were willing TO Pay for Talent
Pat Lyon, the great locksmith Of his
day, 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
q 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 q
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 desirous of looking
at anything, OF was particularly excited,
he took his spectacles off his eyes and
fixed them on his forehead.
He now rubbed his hands over his
head q minute, put his spectacles over
his forehead, looked at the lock half
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 good deal of style.
"And now, Mr.. Lyon" asked the
President, ''what is your charger"
Pat put up his spcctacles little high
er, just little, and said:
Zone hundred dollars"
''What! One hundred dollars for less
than three minutes work, Mr.. Lyon?
Why this is outrageous" said the Presi-
dent.
"It is extortion," said the cashier.
"All right" said Pat Lyon, rubbing
his hands over his head, and then put
ting his spectacles little higher over
his head-just a little. ''You wont give
me my money! won't give you my
work. And I'll leave things as l 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 &c
home.
But the president and cashier, appre'
ciating the situation, seeing what tiA
they were in, begged Pat to let up or
them, and fix the lock so they coulC
open the safe.
''Now, be reasonable in your char
ges; do, Mr.. Lyon" said the bank pres
ident.
.'Two hundred dollars" said Pat, rub
bing his head and raising his spectacle
once more.
"Why, this is downright robbery
cried the President.
ssMight as well break into the safe, a
open it at that rate remarked the cash
ier.
''All right" said Pat, circusing wit
the lock rapidly, before any body coul
prevent him, and then banging the saf
door to, leaving it for the third tim
Theoretically sealed.
By this time the President had hi
mad up. He ordered Pat out of hi
office, and sent for rival blacksmith
He came quick enough, and worked an
fused long and hard enough, but h
didn't fix the lock, and he couldn't ope
the safe. And it got to be nearly l
o'clock, and no money available yet.
In despair the third messenger wa
dispatched after Pat Lyon, who cam
back with q lot of extra dignity.
"Open that at your own terms, Nj
Patrick Lyon" said the President.
Pat rubbed his head, put his specta'
les way up on his forehead, and opene
the safe.
''Now your terms,' said the Presiden
Three hundred dollars" said Pat
The cashier protested, but the Pres
dent paid the money. "Why he wi
ask for $400 next time" remarked Il
President to the cashier.
''Excuse me-" said Pat with dignit
''but my terms next time will be $500.
And Pat rubbed his head and took h
check without word. He was mast
of the situation, and he knew it.
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