The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-03-10
HID In a CLOSET.
His Desperate Attempt to Evade a Bill
Collector. !

Collector.
The bill collector is human, and at times
inds and appreciates hu1nor In even his
usually disagreeahle pursuit. The debtors
usually seek to avoid a meeting with their
3un, sometimes leaving their Offices when:
1 call impends or retiring to inner rooms,
,eaving word that they are out. But they
annot entirely forsake their places or
business, and so 1t is that they are occa-
sionally 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 gonna
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 a 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-
bly, informed in answer to his inquiries
that Mr.. Blank was out and would prob
ably not return before 1890. 1t was then
about 1850 and a sultry morning in July.
well. sir" thought the visitor. 'if 7
don't squeeze him-m-mh." After looking
at his watch he remarked as he took off
his hat and wiped the p%ersiration from his
brow that he had plenty of time and
nothing to do. so he guessed he'd wait
for Mr.. Blank. Drawing up a chair he
sat down and leaned back against the
closet door while he looked over his note
book.
Being a warm, sultry day, and the closet
small and dusty, it was not long before
thero was an uneasy stir behind .he door.
but the visitor sat still. He now had out
4 section of the previous days paper. con-
tanning an instalment of an interesting
serial novel, and with the aid of the cleo
trlc ran over in the corner shunting a
fresh breeze in his direction he calculated
to spend the balance OF the hour quite
pleasantly. However, after thirty or for
ty minutes, when the movement inside in
1lcated 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
9t'2ce. Before reaching the head OF tho
stairs ne heard the sound of the prisoner,
bursting from his confinement In the
mirror the collector now saw his victim,
sriIny with perspiration and dust, sink
weakly into a chair.
The collector congratulated himself that
ne mad not carried the punishment fur.
Their. for the man might have allowed
himself to faint rather than reveal him
self, entailing more or less serious conse-
auences. As 1t 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 fprbearance az can.
tor toward captive. the bill of the former
against the latter ma vet unpaid. ri
Is not possible to say II there Will be an
tnd to the story, as there are weekly in
stalments each involving a fru!tless visit
pt the collector, which may go on until
we matter is settled by the executors OF
the debtors estate.