The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-02-02
A Cigar Swindie.

make a living by defrauding their
fellow creatures in New York city
is greater. and the modes they en-
ploy for the attainment of theirends
more varied, than many imagine.
Indeed, the lower quarters of the
East Side, and even seme of the
downtown business centres, abound
with swindlers who, while fleeing
the public from morning to night,
are by the very nature of their trans.
actions comparatively safe from le-
gal interference. Foremost among
this class for impudence and rascal
Iity are certain itinerant cigar and
tobacco auctioneers. Wherever they
find an empty store in favorable
location they generally manage to
hire it for temporary use. The auc-
tioneer's assistants are sub-auc-
tioneer and several professional
sharpers or ''ropers-in," and it takes
these men but little time to open
operations. All of them it may be
added, are respleEdant in Bowery-
cut clothes and false jewelry. and
their splendor seldom fails to i'm.
press the class that they victimize.
Their first ftep on installing them
selves is to fit up the newly acquir-
ed store will, glass cases and stands
full of cigar-boxes, neatly labelled
and pleasing to the eye; their second
is to hang out the traditional red
flag; and their third to entiee Gus
tom by beginning little sale all by
themselves, in which the sharpers
play the part of an eager public,
and display much activity in bid
ding for cigars and putting the
mol ney on the counter. Soon the
bait thus held forth is snapped at
by passing simpleton. He enters
the auction room and furtively
watches the proceeding for while,
undetermined whether to invest his
savings on the tempting "Havanas"
which were being struck down at
such bargains. But before long he
is approached by ole ofthe buyers"
Nice cigars, eh ? Look as if they
can't be beat, and there's no mis-
take about them. Why, bless me,
considering the prices they're going
for, young fellow with some
spunk, | should think, could sell
'em again for double the money.
Durned if l don't feel like trying it
myself anyhow"
With these words the speaker
dives into the depths of his pockets,
but after a prolonged search only
finds five dollar bill.
"The d take it" he murmurs,
"there's fine lot there going for
$40 or so, and I've already bought
SO much that Pve only Y left"
But | say, young man"-as a
bright idea seems to strike him
''what if you and | go halves. Five
dollars amt much for man like
you, and we can get twenty on that
lot, now don't you forget it,"
The sale is meanwhile going on,
the other swindlers still bidding
feverishly for cigars and handing
over money in payment. The youth
hesitates a moment, but finally sue
cumbs. His new acquaintance and
business partner hastens to bid SO
on lot of six boxes on sale. AS if
bv magic the ardor of the other
buyers abates; at least they do not
outbid him. The youth produces
his s5--perhaps his employers
money, which he hopes to replace
by a profitable disposal of his pur-
chase-and with the cigar boxes
under his arms he struts forth tri-
umphantly. 1t is unnecessary to add
that the delusions he nurses are
quickly dispelled when he reaches
home and is laid upon a bed of sick
ness in consequence of over-indulg-
ence in his newly acquired ''Havan-
nas," or when attempting to sell
them in a cigar store, he is conf
dentially informed that they are
made of choice unadulterated cab
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