Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1896-11-17
wv. HORSE.
How Avaricious Old John Thomas Was
Fooled In Collecting Rent.


Fooled In Collecting Rent.
Old John Thomas, who used to own
about half the land across the Ohio
river from Cincinnati. was a character
not easily forgotten. He had SO much
money he did not know what to do with
II, but he never had enough. His SON
in-law, Van Ness. attended TO his affairs
for him One time old John came to his
son-ln-iaw's Office and asked him how
the tenants were paying their rent.
"Oh. pretty WE'LL said the agent.
Only one behind, think"
"One behind, sirI" exclaimed old
John. well, one is enough. Who is
hep" -
Peterson, up on the hill farm, is be-
hind, but"
well, sir, why doesn't he pay his
rent? l want you to understand, sir,
no one can live on land of mine with
out puying his rent. Way is it?''
We'll. ne fact IS. falhr.. Pci":.r,.-
Las i''"n seek for nvu. ly IL Year ps,.
ana he has not been able to put out any
crop. But he is Industrious when he II
well, and he is an honest"
Il don't care what he is, whether
sick or well, sir" Numbered the rich
man. IL say he has got to pay that rent.
What property has hep"
oh, you don't want to take coerciye
measures. He will pay up as soon as he
can, You have plenty, father, and he
has nothing. Besides, he is goodIte
ant, after ALL"
He amt, sir, if he doesn't pay. What
property has he? Tell me that"
well, he has some horses, / think"
We'll. sir. you take the sheriff out
there and levy on the horses No man
car. live on my land unless he pays,
tell you. Go on and levy"
HtIt lie son-in-law's evident reluc-
tanf" III l." matter made old John sus-
l'irio;!s, and when Van Ness and the
sherii :ot ready to go to the hill farm
We ci l.: rd into the buggy with them
''hn ro'ir a'ong. When they came to the
iarE CID John hail to be told which was
his land. Gs he owned SO much he could
h"i Et'D track of it. When Van Ness
i.".E'ti! II out the old man saw horse
III one "i thr pastures and had it levied
on. II" horse was very fine one, an,
the old i>i!ow felt he was sure of getting
Ills n'"ney. But it happened that Inc
hail horses of his own pasturinp on
nearly every farm that he possessed.
and this animal was one of that num-
Der.
IL don't believe" said Van Ness, as
the men rode home, "that you will get
any ole to bid oil that horse. They all
synipathize with PETERSON
"Then ri buy it myself, sir" was the
sturdy reioinder. 81 like that horse,
anyway"
So ut the sale Van Ness quietly cir
cuiated the report, and several neigh.
bors ran up the price till it was nearly
double the rent due for the hill farm,
and then old John bid it in. He de-
Quoted the debt from the purchase
price and sent the remainder in cash to
Peterson-for he was as honest az he
was atarcious. .is
And for years he plumed himself ON
getting his money out of the tenant.
Later, when Peterson had recovered his
health and had rai'i to Van Ness all the
back rent--for of course he nude moth
ing out of the horse trade--that crafty
son-in-law told old John all about II.
And the old fellow nearly had At OF
oIoplexy. But he recovered when he
found that the debt had really been
paid and that Peterson had IN excellent
crop and was likely never to be in ar
rears again.-Chicago Post.