The true northerner., 1886-02-18

One cold day during the early pant Of tho
winter, a well dressed, smooth spoken, gen
tlemanly appearing chap stopped at the res
idence of Mr. Chaplin Burt, an honest IN
suspecting farmer of this township, for the
purpose of getting warm. While engaged in
thawing himself by the farmers genial FIRE,
he remarked upon the fine new residence
that Mr.. Burt possessed and the evidences of
apparent prosperity and comfort with which
he was surrounded. But said he, ''one
thing thou lackest or words TO that effect,
lyon should have your roof painted. MIR.
Burt didn't think he cared for that, but-a
most singular coincidence-the oily tongued
stranger happened to be n travelling agent
for the "New York Roofing Company and
Burt's house being so finely located. il the
roof could only be painted with the roofing
paint that he was selling, il would be such
an excellent advertisement for his company.
On the whole, if Mr.. Burt would use the
paint, he would give il to him for nothing
II would take about ten gallons and the com
pany could afford that for the sake of such
al excellent advertisement. The unsuspect
ing farmer agreed to this seemingly nagnan-
imous proposition on the part of Mr.. Oily
tongue and said he would uso the paint, and,
| Just TO give the company his name and
address, he signed certain document, "a
mere postal card you know" Thus far no
apparent harm had been done, but, OH Mon
day evening of last week, Oilytongue number2
alias j. II. Clark, as he called himself, put
| i'll an appearance at Mr.. Burt's house with
document of which the following is copy:
| "New York, Jan. 18th, 1885. Mr. Chaplin
Bart, bought of the New York Roofing Com
pany, two casks Roofing Compound, contain
ing 100 gallons at 1925 per gallon, S225.O0.
Credit by 10 gallons at 1926 per gallon,
S22,50. Balance due S2o2.50.'
/ To say that Mr.. Burt was surprised, but.
| feebly expresses his feelings. He was aston
ished, dumbfounded, and protested that he
never gave an order for any such bill of
goods. Oilytongue number two was sorry
for him, but he-Burt-had certainly given
the order and would have to pay for the
goods. Oilytongue was himself responsible
to his company for the amount, and must see
it paid, as he was in duty bound to look out
for his company's interest. II Mr.. Burt
didn't pay it he should have to send an Off
Ger after him, and all that kind of nonsense
and rot. Finally, however, if the farmer
would give his note for $172, due in thirty
days, payable at the First National Bank of
Paw Paw he would generously forgive the
rest of the honest (?) debt. The upshot OF
payable to the order of w. s. McCsllum,
whoever he may be, and on the next Wed
nesday the note was sold to the bank at
which it was made payable by one j. IL.
Cloves of Dowagiac, bearing, at the time of
such sale, the endorsements of Cloves and of
the above named McCallum, who. quito.
likely, may be fictitious parsonage. Mean
while Mr.. Burt has received no paint, not
even the ten gallons so generously donated
to him.
On Friday last. the man Cloves was
arrested on charge of fraud. The other
parties Oilytongue lst and 2d and Me
Callum scent TO have mysteriously disap-
peared. Cloves was very indignant when
arrested and proposed To make il hot for the
people of the state of Michigan, but night
in the cooler mellowed him down somewhat.
On being arraigned before Justice Warner.
on Saturday. he protested that he was an In
nocent purchaser for a valuable considera-
tion-which may or may not be true-and
that he knew nothing about the original
swindle. The examination was postponed
until Monday and the prisoner remanded 10
await further proceedings.
On Monday the matter was settled up by
MIR. Cloves paying the sum of fifty dollars
in cash and leaving his horse and carriage
as security for the balance, and he was per.
mitted to depart in peace. Mr.. Burt wac
fortunate indeed, in that he escapes HAVING
the entire note to pay. II is quite safe tt
predict that he will not be easily victinizeo
again. Farmers should wear stoga boote
keep fierce bull dog and double barrelle0
shot gun, well loaded with buck shot,. ans
, read The ne,cspopers, if they would keep ou'
} of the clutches of the swindlers and villains
who traverse the country 10 and fro, tryinl
! TO rob them Of their hard earned substance