The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-08-24
A 0uaker's Sharp Dodge.

the shears and thimble, who exercised
his avocation in Canterbury, was i'm
posed upon by an adroit scoundrel,
who contrlved to get suit of clothes
| on credit, and afterward decamped
without paying for them. The Quaker
was too poor to lose the debt; but, like
too many others of his cloth, he had
apparently no other alternative. The
account was placed upon his books and
soon forgotten. About five years after
ward he was examining his old record
of debt and credit, profit and loss,
when his attention was attracted to
this account, and all the circumstances
attending it came fresh to mind. Sud-
denly an odd thought suggested itself.
! "I'll try an experiment" said he to
himself; perhaps 1 may succeed il
catching the rogue and getting my
pay"
He Immediately prepared an adver-
| tisement, in substance as follows,
which he inserted in the Kent Herald;
''If Mr.. Henry Webber, who was in
Canterbury about the month of August,
in the year 1853, will send his address
/ to the editor of this paper, he will hear
| 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 result of his experiment.
In short time he was informed by
note from the editor that the individual
alluded to in the advertisement, having
arrived from London, might be found
at the ..Rose Hotel"
The tailor lost no time in preparing a
transcript of his account, not forgetting
to charge interest from the time the
debt was incurred Taking bailifi
with him, who bore legal process
suitable to the occasion, he soon ar
rived at the lodgings of the swindler.
The bailifi was instructed to stand of
at little distance, till a signal should
indicate the time for him to approach.
The Quaker now entered the coffee
room and rang the bell. and when the
servant appeared requested him to in
form the gentleman of whom he was in
search that a friend wished to speak
with him. The waiter Obeyed the sum-
mons, and soon both debtor and credit
or were looking each other in the face.
.'How dost thou do?' kindly inquired
the Quaker, in a bland tone. 'Per-
haps thou dost not know me9'
Il believe have not had the pleas
ure of your acquaintance" politely
answered 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 them?" asked the Quaker.
20, no. said the gentleman, blush
ing slightly; '.you must be mistaken in
the person. 1t cannot possibly be me
that you wish to find.'
But the Quaker was not to be shaken
off by this denial of his debtors iden-
tity.
'.Ah, John! l know thee well. Thou
art the very man | wished to see. Thou
hast on at this moment the waistcoat
that | made for thee. Thou must ac-
knowledge it was of good stuff and well
made, or it could not have lasted thee
so long"
40, yes" said the gentleman, ap-
pearing suddenly to recOllect himself:
Il remember now the circumstances tG
which you allude. Yes, yes-I had in
tended to call and settle that little bill
before leaving Canterbury, and you
may depend on my doing so. l have
come here to take possession of large
amount of property which has fallen to
ME by will. See, here is the advertise.
ment which apprises me of my good
fortune"
Here he handed to the Quaker a copy
of the paper containing the advertise
ment, whose history we have given
above. The Quaker looked at it with
imperturbable gravity, and continued:
s.Yes, see thou art in luck; but as my
demand is a very small one | think ]
must insist on payment before thou
contest in possession of thy large
estates"
A tap at the window here brought the
county court bailitf into the presence
| of the parties. The swindler was par
ticularly astonished at the appearance
of this functionary, who Immediately
began to execute his part of the drama.
WHAT exclaimed the rogue in an
angry tone; 'you surely haven't sued
me?"
..Yes, 1 have" replied the Quaker.
"and thou shouldest be thankful thai
nothing worse has happened to thee. y
Come in, then" said the debtor,
finding himself fairly caught; "come in
and will pay you, if must
| The three went into the house to-
gether, and the slippery gentleman,
| having ascertained the amount of the
| bill, paid it in full. The tailor having
signed the receipt, placed it in the
| hands of his late creditor, with feelings
such as may be readily imagined. The
swindler took it. and. for the first time,
| glanced at various items of which il
| was composed He said nothing till he
came to the last charge, which was
.:for advertising" when he broke forth:
Halo, what's this? For advertising?'
That's an odd charge in tailor's bill.
You're cheating me-"
go. no." cody replied the Quaker,
chats all right. l have charged thee
the cost of publishing the advertise
ment which thou just showed me-"
Here the swindler savagely demanded.
'Do you mean to say that You caused
the publication of that advertisement"
Truly did," replied the Quaker,
with most provoking GOODNESS.
You told a great falsehood in it"
quickly retorted the rogue.
| Convince me of that said the i'm
perturable Quaker. land thou wilt find
me ready to confess the fault.
you said in your advertisement that
should hear of something to my adj
vantage if would come here.
Thou art mistaken Immediately
responded the Quaker; Il only promised
that thou shouldst hear of something
to advantage and is it not to the adj