Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-02-23
HE SUED HIS BENEFAcroR.

~.
HE SUED HIS BENEFACTOR.
a Mistake Which q Landlord Recti1ed
When 1t Was Discovered.
The owner of the house was suing for
unpaid rent, and the case was to come
before a North side justice of the peace.
1t appeared that the tenant had re-
fused to pay the rent on the contention
that the owner had failed to comply
with certain terms of the lease in regard
to keeping the premises in good repair.
The owner was not personally ac-
quainted with the tenant, having rented
the house through an agency. All the
disputes as to the payment OF rent and
the improvement of the place had been
carried on by correspondence. The
tenant had. written peppery letters, and
had shown disposition to stand up
for what he regarded as his rights, and
had sent defiant messages by the col
lector who called to see him. For this
reason the owner Of the house was in a
fighting temper, and determined to Sc
cure judgment, and either compel inn
mediate payment or eject the tenant.
While the owner was sitting in the
Justice court waiting for his case to be
called he could not help looking at a
man who sat on the bench beside him.
1t seemed to him that he had met
this man before, but he could not recall
the circumstances of their meeting.
Finally, during a lull in the court pro.
ceedings, he turned to his right-hand
neighbor and said: ut seems to me
that I've seen you before"
Possibly" said the other, "your face
is sort of familiar to me-
ooh, know now. You ride the wheel,
don't your"
Eyes, nearly every day."
Weren't you out on the Sheridan
drive one day about two weeks ago?"
II remember you now. You're the
man that had the punctured tire"
That's right. I knew I'd met you
somewhere. I don't know what I'd
have done that day If you hadn't stopped
to repair that tire for me. It's the first
puncture ever had"
Yes, SO you said. Well, it's easy
enough to fix tire if you know how
'That may be, but was getting
ready to walk home when you came
along. I want to tell you again that 1
appreciated your kindness very much.
1t isn't every man who'll stop and put in
ten minutes tinkering at another mans
Wheel"
THAT was all right. It wasn't much
trouble to me-"
DO you live up this way?"
II live over on Fullerton avenue.
I'm being sued by my landlord for back
rent. His agent promised that the
house would be put in good shape, but
there hasn't been thing done to 1t yet,
SO I've been holding back the rent.
Now they're suing me. think I've
got Justice on my side, but don't sup
pose stand any chance in this court"
The owner of the house had become
as red as a rose. He attempted to
speak, but his voice failed him. Finally,
however, he tapped his neighbor on the
shoulder and said: Come outside"
The younger man was surprised, but
lie arose and followed. The two stood
on the sidewalk outside the justice shop
and had long conversation.
I've been too hasty in this matter"
said the owner finally. You're en-
titled to those repairs"
ut isn't your fault" replied the
other. "You probably didn't know
just what the agent promised me-"
''Well, we don't want to have any
trouble about this"
IF you'll just come out to the house
and look around we can settle the
whole thing in five minutes"
mo, you just go ahead and have the
place fixed up and I'll pay the bill"
The owners lawyer was amazed when
he received his hurried instructions to
dismiss the suit at plaintiffs cost. He
couldn't understand it at all until they
were riding downtown together, when
the owner explained that he wasn't in
business for the purpose of prosecuting
Good Samaritans.-Chicag Record.