OLD TRICK, FOOL'S BAIT

FOOL’S BAIT

A business man lent some money to his friend who was having  trouble with his finances. His friend promised that he would pay back the loan as soon as he could collect from his borrowers.  

The businessman gave his friend the cash he needed without any written agreement but with only a  handshake.   

A year had passed but his friend apparently did not bother to pay back the loan. Fearing that his friend might have gone bankrupt he asked around and learned that his friend was doing well financially. 

The businessman consulted a lawyer if he could still collect the money owed by his friend. The lawyer said he could but they have to sue,  and  it was going to be difficult because he had no evidence or signed note to prove the loan.

The businessman somehow blamed himself for trusting too much his friend, by not bothering to make his friend sign a written note of his indebtedness . He did not know that his friend had a very short memory when it came to paying his obligation.  He  was reluctant to sue because his position was shaky, besides he would be spending more in case of  litigation. 

The businessman sought the advice of an old, retired professor of law,   who lived a few blocks from his home.

The old man was sitting in his rocking chair on the porch as the businessman explained his problem.  

After a long silence, the old professor, asked the businessman how much money did his friend owe him.  

The businessman said  he loaned his friend Fifty thousand.

After another long silence, the old professor said, he could think of something that might work but there were no guarantees.

The businessman said he had no other choice but to try anything. 

The old professor said, “This is what you will do. Write your friend that you urgently need the One Hundred and Fifty Thousand he owed you and send the letter.”

The businessman asked, “You mean the Fifty Thousand he owed me?” 

“No” the old man said, “he now owed you that much, so send the letter”.

The businessman did as he was told.

A week later, the businessman returned to see the old professor, and reported, that his friend had replied.

“ And what did he write back?’ the old man asked.

 “He wrote he owed me only fifty thousand, no more, no less.” 

“Well, there’s your evidence in writing ” exclaimed the old professor, “obviously he took the bait.”