Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1912-09-06

wood ceiling from. some chateau In
Normandy, marble vase from Sar-
DINA, new Italian bronzeS, old Dutch
chairs mingled with Chippendale, Hep
pelwhite, and atrocious things in gilt,
tables OF the empire beside colonial
consoles, Moorish corners with old
arms, rugs, banners-all the indiscrim-
mate loot of a barbarian with money
sacks.
admired with discrete and evasive
generalities. Balduc said nothing and
finally we went in to dinner. l had
not seen its like, except at Thanksgiv-
ing in New England farmhouse A
turkey on his golden back in huge
platter, saddle of mutton, trussed
fowls, food enough for a ships crew,
piled hot and steaming on the biggest
table in New York.
We sat down, and Barnsfield put
his hands on the tablecloth, closed his
puffy eyes, and made ready to invoke
a blessing on his house.
Jean Balduc spoke then "Mr.
Barnsfeld," he said, 'I am sick"
Barnsfield sprang up, got ocean
ter Of brandy from a sideboard and
set 1t down by Balduc. There" he
said, "that'll fix you"
mo-" said Balduc, nothing will do
me any good but to get outside in the
air."
Barnsfield started toward a door.
"Come right here.' he said, ION this
balcony
Balduc got up then. NO." he said,
Il will go out into the street with Mr..
Parks; but, before go, want to hand
you this six hundred dollars that
owe you," and he took roll of bills
from his waistcoat pocket and laid
them on the tablecloth.
Barnsfield saw instantly that some
climax had arrived, but what he did
not know. He came back and sat down
IN his chair.
What do you mean?' he said.
II mean,'' replied Balduc, that /
got only nineteen tracts of land for
you in Huron county, SO you owe me
just nineteen thousand dollars. You
paid me today, nineteen thousand, six
hundred, which was six hundred too
much"
BarnsfeId's face began to pale. 81
don't understand" he said. II paid
the taxes to you. / gave you twenty
eight bonds for them and got the re-
ceipt. I did not pay you: paid the
taxes"
"Yes," said Balduc, ''you thought
you paid the taxes; but you didn't.
You paid me. The bonds brought nine
teen thousand, six hundred dollars.
l give you back the six hundred now,
and our account is square"
Barnsfield got up. IT paid the taxes
he said. 81 got the tax receipts"
NO." said Balduc, "taxes can only
be paid in money. That's the law.
You can't pay taxes with property.
Your tax receipts are not worth hell
room. They acknowledge the pay
ment in bonds
Barnsfield turned to me. Whats
all this rot?" he said.
I got up then, and walked around
the table What Mr.. Balduc has
said" answered, lis quite true. Taxes
can be paid only in money. If one
owing taxes delivers property to the
tax-officer for them, he does it at his
own risk. He does not thereby pay
his taxes. If the tax-officer keeps
the property, the other must repay the
taxes in money. The state accepts
only money for taxes"
''It's embezzlement of taxes" cried
Barnsfeld. eff I have to repay them,
he'll have to go to the penitentiary!"
NO." / said, "it is not embezzle-
ment of taxes. 1t is not any crime at
all, for the reason that the tax-officer
is authorized to collect only money.
He has no authority to receive prop
erty. Property, if delivered to him, is
at its owners peril. He is not charge
able with embezzlement if he apprO-
PIRATES this property to his own use,
nor are his bondsmen liable for it, be-
cause they guarantee only a proper &C.
counting of money which the officer
receives as taxes"
Barnsfield jumped up and started
toward little telephone at the cor
ner of the sideboard. Balduc darted
dCIOSS Tic IOOluS SudSnSu IAS CSAC-
phone with his knuckles and confront
ed Barnsfield.
sit down, you puffy yarmint," he
said. Unto your chair with you'll"
And, Selling the man by the should
ers, he whirled him around and
forced him down into his chair. Bal
due stood over him q moment, his
fingers working with restrained saw
agery. His jaws cIamped; his eyes
narrowed to thin line of blue. Then
he turned to me. Let us CO." he
said, before l tramp the creatures
face out of shape on the floor"
We left Barnsfield, wheeling with
excitement, his breath gone and his
fat hands wabbling about on the arms
of his chair.
In the street, BaIduc took deep
breath and shook himself like dog
coming out of slime-vat. Il had to
get out of there" he said. "or kill him.
Good-by. If you ever need slave with
steel fingers, send word of it to Jean