MR JONES' £20 NOTE.

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 50, 27 August 1881, Page 587

MR JONES' £20 NOTE.

Mr John Jones is living comfortably with Ms wife and children and mother-in-law, in Newton. Last Monday evening, about S o'clock, Mrs Jones desired two postage stamps, one # sixpenny and one twopenny. Mr Jones, with his usual affability and disinterestedness of all personal concerns, volunteered to go for them. It so happened that all the change in the house was gone, though ■everybody searched to see if there were any pennies lying around. But as Mrs Jones was ■exceedingly anxious to post the letters by the English mail, leaving next morning, and must have the stamps, Mr Jones was compelled to take a £20 note (the only money he had in the house) to buy the eightpenny worth of postage -stamps. He accordingly did so, put on his hat and started out. Jones felt it was no use trying to change the note in Newton, so lie walked down Queenstreet until lie came to the Anchor Hotel, where he thought there might be a good opportunity of arranging the matter. But as he would not put the people to the trouble without at least ■spending something, Mr Jones, though very much against his natural instinct, ordered some whiskey. He got it and drank it. Then he put down his £20 note. The barkeeper looked at it, and then at Mr Jones. Mr Jones seemed honest, so the barkeeper, after glancing at it again two or three times, opened the drawer and came to the conclusion that he had not enough change. The barkeeper then returned to Mr Jones and told him he had better pay for his drink some other time, Mr Jones went out, and wondered what he should do. He knew Mrs Jones was waiting for the two postage stamps — one sixpenny and one twopenny — and this spurred him on! He thought of the Albeit Hotel, a little further ■down ; so on he went, and walked upstairs to the bar. "Give me a glass of whiskey," said Mr •Jones, with a well-assured indifference. The whiskey was handed to him and he drank it, and put down his £20 boldly. The barmaid took it up, looked at it and then at Mr Jones somewhat suspiciously. "I can't change it," she said. "That's all I've got," said Mr Jones. "Then pay the next time you come," said the barmaid. Mr Jones went downstairs and out into the street, and wondered where he could buy two postage stamps that evening. It struck him that they would be sure to be able to change his note at the Thistle Hotel. No sooner thought than done. He went straight in, up to the bar, and in rather an arrogant tone demanded some whiskey. The liquid was put before Mr Jones, who drank it off very defiantly. Then he put down his £20 note. * The barmaid, after looking at it, said she could not change it, and, as Mr Gallagher was out, he had better pay some other time. Mr Jones went out to the street and began to wonder why he wanted the postage stamps and how he came by a £20 note. But he remembered that for some reason or another he wanted to change it ; so he went on till he came to the Nevada Hotel, and then he walked in boldly to the inside bar. " Give me a glass of whiskey," he said. The whiskey was handed to him, and he drank it. . Then he put down the £20 note. The barmaid said instantly that she couldn't change it, and that he had' better pay the next time lie called. Mr Jones was getting pretty angry by this time, and he said he didn't know that he would ever call again. "I can't help that," said the. barmaid— "l won't change any £20 for a sixpenny drink." Mr Jones left the Nevada very much out of humour. He had now been nearly an hour away from home, and had drank several whiskies. He was, in fact, a little confused as to the precise reason why he had left home at all, Still he knew that postage-stamps had something to do with it, but what he did not exactly knoAv. At any rate, he had to change this £20 note. By-and-bye he met a friend. This gentleman said he had left all his money at home, unfortunately, but though the could ge t the note changed at the Waitemata Hotel. They ?)roeecded thither, and had a whiskey eacli. Mr Jones then put down his £20 note. The barkeeper said he could not change it, and though appealed to by Mr Jones' friend, persisted in declaring his inability to do so. At this Mr Jones got mad, and trouble was imminent, when Mr Jones's friend asked him to have another drink. Mr Jones could not refuse. « • • • t About 11 o'clock that night, a gentleman with his hat somewhat battered, drove up in a cab to a house in Newton. The driver got down from the box and Avoke him up. " Shish shouse. Shay ?" "Yes, sir; this is the house." "Can you (hie) shange a £20 note?" The cabby could not ; but he said he would call again next day. He has not been back since. Mrs Jones now goes for her oavii postageatamps Avhen she wants any.