A stranger rides into town and says to the Innkeeper "I'll book a room for the night how much?"
The Innkeeper replies that'll be $100 cash on the counter please. The stranger duly deposits his $100 bill and goes to have a drink and take in the atmosphere ...
The Innkeeper is strapped and immediately takes the $100 and goes and pays the plumber an outstanding debt of $100.
The plumber who is looking to keep in good standing with the carpenter for some repairs on the roof takes him the $100 and pays of his debt.
The carpenter goes to the butcher and pays an old debt for, yes you guessed it $100.
The butcher goes to the baker with the cash and the baker to the candlestick-maker.
The candlestick-maker goes to the shoemaker and the shoemaker to the dressmaker (for his wife's debt). The dressmaker to the grocer. The grocer goes to the hooker and settles.
Finally the hooker goes to the Inkeeper and pays for the room she used last night.
The Innkeeper then has the stranger show up saying, forget the room this town is riddled with debt. Fine says the Innkeeper and hands the stranger his $100 bill back.
The stranger rides out of town with the same $100 he rode in with .... but the town has now dissolved $1000 of debt .... how can this be?
