The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-03-11
HID IN A CLOSET.
His Desperate Attempt to Evade a Bill
Collector.

His Desperate Attempt to Evade a Bill
Collector.
The bill collector is human, and at times
inds and appreciates humor in even his
usually disagreeable pursuit. The debtors
usually seek to avoid a meeting with their
lun, sometimes leaving their offices when
L call impends or retiring to inner rooms,
.eaving word that they are out. But they
cannot entirely forsake their places of
business, and SO it is that they are occa-
sionaliy found ''in." But an instance was
ately recounted by a collector wherein
the debtor was found both In and out at
the same time. He said that while going
up the steps OF an office building last
summer he glanced in a mirror at the
head Of the stairway which was on such
a plane as to show the open door of the
office he was about to visit in his official
capacity. Through the door could be seen
a portion of the desk at which sat the
head of the firm, whom the collector de-
sired to see, and back of him q door. At
the instant the collector came within line
Of this reflection the gentleman within
noticed the visitor coming and recog-
nized him. Jumping up quickly he made
several gestures to his secretary, opened
the door behind him and stepped into the
dusty closet 1t concealed, closing the door
behind him.
When our friend entered he was plausi-
NY III III answer 10 MS injuries
that Mr.. Blank was out and would prob
ably not return before 1890. 1t was then
about 11:O and a sultry morning in July.
Well, sir" thought the visitor, "if I
don't squeeze him-m-mh." After looking
at his watch he remarked as he took off
his hat and wiped the persiration from his
brow that he had plenty of time and
nothing to do, so he guessed he'd wait
Tor Mr.. Blank. Drawing up a chair he
sat down and leaned back against the
closet door While he ooked over his note
book.
Being a warm, sultry day, and the closet
small and dusty, it was not long before
there was an uneasy stir behind The door;
but the visitor sat still. He now had out
4 section OF the previous days paper, con-
tanning an i%nstalment of an interesting
serial novel, and with the aid of the cleo
trio fan over in the corner Shunting a
fresh breeze in his direction he calculated
10 spend tho balance Of the hour quite
pleasantly. However, after thirty or for
ty minutes, when the movement inside in
licated the elimination of a crisis, the
collector considered the effect such severe
grueling and possible humiliation might
nave on his case. He decided that il
would be best for him to leave. STATING
that he would return shortly, he left the
office. Before reaching the head Of thu
stairs he heard the SOUND of the prisoner
pursuing from his confinement. In the
mirror the collector now saw his victim,
sriny with perspiration and dust, sink
weakly into a chair.
The collector congratulated himself that
he had not carried the punishment fur.
Their, for the man might have allowed
himself to faint rather thar reveal him.
self, entailing more or less serious conse-
nuences. AS it was, the deceptive debtor
was given a severe lesson and will doubt
less be willing to stand for an interview
or else be more crafty in avoiding a
meeting. a sad part in the story is, that,
Notwithstanding the forbearance of cap
tor toward captive, the bill Of the former
against the latter remains yet unpaid. 1t
Is not possible to say If there will be an
end to the story, as there are weekly in
stalments each involving a frultless visit
Of the collector, which may go on until
the matter is settled by the executors of
the debtors estate.