The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1900-05-03

and jollier. He was always on the
lookout for chance to dicker, and he
never failed to get the best of the
bargain.
1t was not long before 1 heard he
was doing a sort of money-lending
business with his spare cash, with the
porter, the elevator boy and some of
the clerks of the sort who run short
between pay days and are willing to
pay handsomely for an accommodation,
which Sam was not slow to take ad-
vantage OF, always taking their note,
no matter how small: the amount or
how short the time. [ accused him one
day of being heartless userer, but he
promptly claimed that extra risks de-
manded extra charges and that if he
did not speculate on the improvident
one, some one else would.
One Saturday when the elevator boy
was paid off, he quietly divorced him
self from his job, leaving an unpaid
note of $500 in Sans hands as a re-
membrance of him. Sam never COM
planned, but a few days later asked for
couple hours off to transact,a little
private business. He was back in an
hour and his clothes looked as if he
had been mixing up with buzz saw;
his collar was pinned on instead of
buttoned and there was a nice little
puff ball under his right eye. Ignor-
ing these significant signs [ asked him
if he had transacted the business to
his satisfaction. eyes the goIdarn crit
ter. [ heerd he was steering the ele-
vatOr in the hotel up the street, so [
found him there and asked him per-
litely if he would please take up his
note. He busted out laffin right in my
face and tole me to jest hold my breath
until l got the money. A lot of men
were around, SO / just played cute and
held my breath, until got blue in the
face, lettin' on l thought he was in
airnest: but when he dident make no
sign of comm down with the money, |
yelled out he was tryin' to murder me
and 1 pitched into him hammer and
tongs; l KEEP him goin' so lively that
they couldn't part us, and finally he
shelled out the money, and fifty cents
more FOR my election fees"
l tried to tell Sam that was no way
fO o0lIonf 6nhfc h,,f ho oIoipon1 ho LoI
acted in self-defense, and he wasent
going to let his business go to pieces
for lack of sand.
Well the old man heard of the scrap,
and it struck him Sam might make
good collector, so he started him out
with some of the toughest old accounts
on the books.
His success was remarkable. When
Sam told one Obstreperous customer
that he would be glad to- settle the
account very soon, the only reply he
got was: "Go on you long!egged, slab
sided hayseed; you've got to get up
mighty early in the morning if you
collect that bill"
Well it was not more than 1905 A M.
when Sam began to work that mans
door bell that night, and his first in
quiry was as to whether it was too
early in the morning. The answer was
a string of threats of bodily harm to
Sam; but Sam calmly drawled out:
GAIL right sir, I'll call again." which he
did, after walking around the block.
The second attack on the door bell
brought another string of abuse, so
loud that it aroused the neighbors,
bringing many heads to windows.
"You said 1 must come around mighty
early in the morning to get that
money" said Sam, in an injured tone
of voice, when he got chance to
speak. That put the neighbors on to
the game aud brought out litter
along the line. sect out of here or I'll
Shoot" roared the man.
"Jest as you say" replied Sam; "may.
be am little early, so I'll come back
about one o'clock"
That brought out roar of laughter
from the now quite large audience that
had gathered.
"For Heavens sake pay that little