OLD JACK'S BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 147, 22 June 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

OLD JACK'S BILL.

A curious bill was once received by the head o£ one of the great uiiiuul'acturiiig linns in the North, l'he eugiue of the factory tv question stopped working one day, nor could the efforts of the engineers present start the machine. Something had gone wrong with the pump, and it looked j.s if the whole factory would have to be stopped while the necessary repairs were made. This would have meant nn Immense loss both 1" time and money. But when everybody had had a try at starting the engine-, somebody bethought himself of calling in tJUe services of "Old Jack." Now Old Jnck was an engineer famed throughout the district for his knowledge of the ways of engines. He would have been worth almost any money to a flnn If It had not been for the fact that he could nevei be trusted to be sober at any particular mo inent. However, it so happened that when O'd Jack had been sought for amongst the taverns of the neighbourhood, he was found in :i state <jf efficiency. He rame in, gazed mournfully at the engine, borro\v<Kl a hummer, gave the pump two or three taps, and said, "She'll go now." And she did go. Old Jack was asked to send lv his bill, which he did thus:— To starting engine £10 10/0 The proprietor of the factory was taken aback, seeing that Old Jack hud spent at the utmost a minute over the work; he thought that half a sovereign would be ample remuneration. Then the reprobate engineer sent in another bKl— To starting engine £0 10 0 To knowing how 10 0 0 £10 10 0 He got his money.