The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-31
A Gypsy Woman Swindles a Man Out out OF
$4,000,
From the Sedalia mo

FROM tne Seuaia no. Ilmes
A. A. Reeves is quiet well-to-do farm
er, living about six miles northwest of this
city, on the Georgetown road. By hard
work and frugal living, he had acquired the
farm upon which he resides, and about
$1,000 in money. Week before last, how
ever, he was victimized in an almost incred-
lble amer to the extent of $6,000-an
amor Mt which it will take half the earnings
of his lifetime to repay.
On Thursday, Aug. l, company of gip-
sizes, consisting of three men and one wo-
man, encamped near Mr.. Reeves house
The woman called on Mr.. R. the same day,
representing to him that she was clairvoy-
ant fortune-teller, and that she was endow-
ed with secret gift, which enabled her to
reveal the past and future of all things sub.
lunary. Furthermore, she informed Mr.. r.
that she was spiritualist, and that the spr-
it's had communicated to her the astounding
fact that somewhere on his Mr.. r. Farm,
immense quantities of gold and silver
had been hidden by some one at a
time whence the memory of man runneth
not to the contrary" The charming WON
an continued to visit Mr.. RS house from
day to day, and finally informed him that
the spirits would not deign to tell where the
treasure was deposited, unless she could be
temporarily placed in possession of $4,000
with which 10 perform the necessary incan.
tations. Strange as it may seem, Mr.. X.
gave credence to this--the woman complete
ly infatuated him, leading him wheresoever
she would. He promised her that he would
obtain the money (S6, 000l, and each swore
| the other to eternal secrecy. Mr.. r. had
1865 in his own possession, and he quietly
borrowed enough from different members Of
his family to make up the thousand, with
out mentioning the purpose for which he
wanted it. He then came to Sedaia, and
mortgaged his farm to Mr.. Reeve Hughes
to the amount of $4,000 payable in 80 DAYS
at two and-a-half per cent. month. He
thereUpon returned home. without inform
ing any member Of his family what his mis-
sion had been to Sedalia stealthly met his
enchantress and told her he was ready tor
the information. The woman took the mo-
ney, made roll of it, wrapped it securely
in piece of cotton cloth, and as if to make
assurance doubly sure, she then took a long
string and tied it many times around the
roll Of money. She returned the next day
when the final ceremonies took place which
were to inevitably extort a revelation from
the spirits as TO the exact locality where the
Reeves into q room where there could be nc
other witnesses Of the mysterious oanjura
tons, had him to stand in the centre of the
floor, and with uplifted hands repeat the
Lords prayer, while she, in possession OF
the package of money, performed evolutionS
round about him, mysteriously chanting
during the time. This performance conclu-
ded, the woman placed what was ostensbly
the money, in one of Mr.. RS hands, and
charged him. at the peril of destroying the
spell, not to let the package go out of that
particular hand unit! he had hidden it il
some safe and secret place, where, undis
! turbed, it was to remain for the period O
| four days, when Mr.. r. was to go and get it
and meet his enchantress at n spring near
| by, when the two in company would pro
coed to the place WI re the hidden treasure
was buried Mr.. Reeves obeyed these in
functions strictly, telling no one of any par
of the transactions; hid what he supposed
was his package of $4,000 safely away, anc
at the exact moment, when the four day;
expired, sought his package and found it
but alas instead of counting the $4,000, il
only contained the disconnected fragments
of one of Beadle's Dime novels. Our read
ers can imagine Mr.. RS feelings of disap
pointment, indignation and chagrin at this
stage of the proceedings. He sought hi:
charmer at the spring, but alas she was ne
| where visible. The gipsies had
Folded their tents like the Arabs,
And silently stole AWAY"