The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-02-18
Public Cheats.


lavish display of colored glass and gilt
ornaments, their "oreide" watches, and
"genooyinc" Alaska diamonds In very
narrow and low show window, play n
conspicuous part in many Of tho mice
games" which tighten the pockets Of vcr-
dants. The rogucs who run these shops
not only sell their elegant jcwelryat less
than cost, for the benefit of some great
manufacturing concern which has just
failed" but have Mt hand always ready
for use various devices which prove very
alluring to those Of their visitors who do
not care to purchase the glittering rub
Tbish.
Not long since m acquaintance of ours,
wishing to learn something Of the way in
which the sharpcrs operated, stepped into
ono of the numerous ",lollar stores" down
town. He had no sooner entered than a
wcll.dresscd man with very bland mir
requested him to take scat. or course
he saw Mt once that his customer was no
country pigeon" eager to be pluckcd,
and so did not disgust him with attention.
Our friend examined some specimens of
jewclry which he saw in the glass case on
tho counter, and on expressing his opin-
ion that they were of very poor quality.
was told in confidential way that In the
back part of tho store they had watches
and diamond jewelry Of tho finest and
costliest workmanship, and, rs If To sub
st;,ntiatc his statement, the polite "salcs-
man" brought ont gold watch Of large
dimensions, and considerable value, ap-
parcntly. and requested his visitor to cx-
anime it carefully. Our friend looked at
its works and tried the firmness of the
case, and pronounced it n good article.
",vhat would you give for it'' asked
tho dealer.
II have pretty good tinc-piecc alrca-
ly," said our friend,
ats worth, Mt low valuation, ono
hundred and sevcnty-fivo dollars" said
the dealer; "but I'll tell you what I'll do,
rs business is very slack and our firm
wants money, will sell Il to you for ono
hundred dollars. You can sell Il again
among your friends and make ut least u
cool twenty-five on it."
NO." said our friend, "my pocket Is
not long enough for that. Still, regard
tho watch rs cheap enough ut q hundred
dollars"
Encouraged by tho tone of his visitor,
Peter took another course, his face assum-
ing rcgrctful expression. "What kind
of watch have you got ?"
"An English patent lever. hunting
cased."
"Now, without seeing 1t. I make this
offer; for your watch and fifty dollars you
may have this one. You could not put n
gold case like this on your watch for sew
enty.nve or cighty-that you know your
SELF"
Eyes" quietly remarked our friend.
"And to show that am in earnest, for
! want money, rs told you before, I will
let you have this watch for yours and
twenty-five dollars cash and your note Mt
thirty days for the balance. There, I
don't know you, never saw you before,
but believe you to bc an honest man,
This was bringing matters to fine
point; but our friend knew that he would
be loser in any event, and so did not
take the halt. After minutes silence.
lls said .
"If my watch wcrc not q sort Of heir
loom and mn excellent timc-kccpcr. / don't
know but would consider your last offer
but"-pointing at long mar
row box In which were arranged hum
ircd or moro envelopes = "what arc
Lhcse ?"
"Thcsc." replied tho operator. 'arc
tickets which we sometimes let our Gus
lomcrs use for drawing jcwclry. You de-
posit dollar. and whatever you draw
you have. See, draw this envelope, and
On opening Il find printed on tho ticket,
No. ga, silvcr-platcd cakc-haskct, 4ie.
Such basket you could not buy in the
regular way for less than ten dollars"
Saying this, the envelope was replaced In
he box I'm n carelcss manner. C)ur friend