Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1901-12-05
ONLY A SLIP OF PAPER

One day recently man win som-
brero on strollcd into the office or
Wade, Scales & Co He took the blank
slip of paper offered him and wrote this
on it:
Mr. Nobody from Nowhere. This Is my name
until after our conversation.
Give that to the boss" be said. land
tell him | think he'll be glad 10 see me.
Curiosity more than anything else led
the staid and digniiied Mr.. Wade TO al
low this unconventional visitor a
chance to get into his private office.
Once there. Mr.. Nobody said. IF III
show you where there is $1,000 due this
firm aud easily collectable $1,000 that
you know nothing about. what VIII the
information be worth TO meT
IL don't see how it's possible, said
Mr.. Wade. that even with our great
business there could be that large
amount due us and we know nothing
| about it,"
Tell me what it's worth 10 me If my
information is correct-and I'll prove TO
you by your own books inside OF five
minutes that il is correct--and then
Wen proceed to business"
Information that this firm is so fool
sh as not TO know that an easy collect
able 81 800 is due is worth $50 10 any
man who will prove IL. Show me that
we are such business idiots. and IN
give you $50 right out of my own peck
ct. More than that, If by the faintest
chance what you say should prove true
and we can collect the $1,000, I'll give
you third OF It,"
The sonlbreroed stranger went down
into an inside pocket "Go 10 your
books Sept. ~ 1889" he said
Mr.. Wade went to his books. There.
after the stranger had mentioned an
invoice number. they found what in n
nutshell was this: shipped TO John
Fox, Bcknell, Ariz.. 400 bags OF sugar
of 100 pounds each 10000 pounds.
Now turn to your books Of Jan. II
1890"
1t did not take Mr. Wade and his
bookkeeper more than minute TO find
out that instead of sending bill for
10000 pounds Of sugar TO John Fox
they had sent him bill for 400 pounds.
a bill which he had paid promptly.
receipt had been sent Mr. Fox and the
transaction closed. and the error had
never been discovered There was due
the firm OF Wade 4 Scales from John
Fox $500 and interest thereon for
something like twelve years.
you see" said the visitor. II was
Mr. Fox's boOkkeepcr for years and
years When the bill for 400 pounds
of sugar came in. ! said. III pay the
bill M II stands. and If they ever send
bill Cor the remaining $500 pounds
I'll pay that too but ! guess we don't
need TO worry about the mistake. The
other day John Fox kicked me out OF
| his employment for trivial mistake
| kicked me out penniless AT that What
! am doing now YOU may consider
piece of revenge. SO ii Is largely. but
| also need money"
The westerner left the place with so
| In his pocket. and the next mail took q
bill TO John Fox for 1000 plus the in.
| terest for twelve years. Actuated 10y
| curiosity TO know how the man would
| explain the matter. Mr. Wade Enclosed
with the bill query rs 10 why. hav-
ing received 10000 pounds of sugar.
Mr. Fox had sent on pay for only 400
pounds.
Within n week n check for the fun
amount OF the bill and interest was re
ceived John Fox was too good a bust
ness man not TO know that he must pay
Instantly but as far as his dishonesty
was concerned this is what he said in
his letter. The. only bit Of writing that
appeared except the name and figures
on the check:
make it point never to pay until bills are
presented. You never sent the bill tor the extra
| 5000 pounds john Fol-.
Was Fox thief or simply CONNER.
cially shrewd?
In the years that had passed John
Fox had become n multimilllonaire.
Recently he wished TO open great rs
adjustment in Chicago A real estate
agent found him finely located build
ing near the heart OF the business dis
trict Fox came way on To look al II
| He went to the agents office and found
him look ing somewhat downcast. as a
man might look WHO was out fat com
mission
mir Fox" said The agent. Il was III
terly dumfounded this morning when
| informed by the owners Of the build
ing selected for you that they would
not let you have il under any circum
stances. The owners are n firm OF
wholesale grocprs When pressed
| them for reason for refusing TO let the
property 10 you the head OF the firm
handed me u slip of paper and said:
i understand Mr. Fox is TO come to
see you today When he asks you for
our reason i'm declining 10 rent TO him.
| simply give him this piece OF paper. "
John Fox held out his hand and re-
ceived the slip Of paper from the agent.
He unfolded IT, lie saw that II was one
VI his own lptterheads. and below the
printing hp read this. written in his
own hand:
Wade. Scales & Co.
Gentlemen make IL point never to pay
until bills presented. JONI For.
-Cbfpauo na,nr1 uarald