Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1894 — A RUSTLING COLLECTOR. [ARTICLE]

A RUSTLING COLLECTOR.

Ho Got the Money, But It Took Borne Time. “When I was a youngster of 17, M said a successful business man, “1 got a job as collector with a man who wa i about as strict a martinet as I ever saw. He insisted on everything be ng done just as he said, and there wre times when life was verily a burden, but I stuck to him. One morning he called me up and handing me a bill on a man I knew, he said for mo to take it around and collect it. “‘lt’s one of our standbys,’ he said, ‘and every collector I ever sent to him reported him absent or not findable or something. Now you go and don't come back here till you see him.’ “ ‘Do you mean that?' I asked, us two or three clerks looked up. “‘You know me,’was all he said in reply, and I went out after my man. “He wasn’t at home, the people said, and wouldn tbe for six weeks. So I stuck the bill in my pocket and went 1 off up the country for a visit. The old man sent after me half a dozen times, but my folks could only tell I was out oi town, and I never paid any attention to a letter got from the boss, but went on enjoying myself. Then I came back ai.d had a visit with some other friends, and ut the end of six weeks I called on my mau again with the bill. I found h.m at home and told him what 1 La i done and he paralyzed me by paying the bill, with Interest. Two hours In.er 1 stepped into the boss’ office. “ 'There, I said, before he had time to gather his wits, ‘is the amount oi your bill and interest. / He was out oi town for six weeks, and I couldn't see him before. You told me not to come back till I did see him and I was obey ing your instructions. I had a rattling good time and the house owes mo six weeks’ salary.’ “The old man gasped, got blue in the face and I thought he was going to explode; but he didn’t: he gulped it all down and stuck out his hand. “ ‘Young man,’ he said, ‘you ought to have been a soldier. lam going to put you in charge of the collection department and double your salary,’ and, ” concluded the merchant, "when I was 25 I was a partner.”