Lesson60 The Dishonest Desk Clerk

About a year ago, I registered at a Detroit hotel. I had just cashed a check. I didn't want to carry too much money with me, so I asked the desk clerk to put       1     in the safe for me.

The next morning the clerk denied any       2     of my money. I had neither a receipt nor any other proof that I had given the man my money. It was his word against mine. There was nothing I could do but go to       3    .

The lawyer advised me to return to the hotel with him and give another hundred-dollar bill to the clerk. This we did. An hour later I went back to the desk and claimed my money. Since I had the lawyer as an eyewitness to the second hundred-dollar bill, the clerk could not look innocent and say he knew nothing about it.

Another hour later, I put the second part of the lawyer"s plan into action. This time both the lawyer and I went to the hotel. I asked for the hundred-dollar bill, and then the clerk insisted he had already given it to me, I       4      it. The lawyer said, "I saw this man give you a hundred dollars. If you don't       5     immediately, I'll be forced to call the police." The clerk realized he had been tricked, but he knew he had to face the music. He gave me back the first hundred-dollar bill.

"I don't know how to thank you for getting my money back," I said to the lawyer. And what do you suppose he answered?

The lawyer said, "Oh, don"t thank me. That will be a hundred dollars please."