The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-04-13
Paris SwIndIes.

Here are some OF Ine newest faTlSlau
swindles which speak for themselves:
The Widow Hoecher. an honest soul
living on small income, has for twenty
years been in the habit of paying a
weekly visit to the grave of her husband
at Pere Lachaise One afternoon she
finds a young lady, elegantly melancholy
in the costliest mourning, bowed down
in affection over neighboring grave.
The honest widow proffers her consola-
ton to the mourner, who receives her
sympathetic advances with grateful
fervor and leaves the cemetery with her.
AS they stroll away the young stranger
introduces herself as the Countess Mon
trond. She belongs to the Cote de'Or,
and visits Paris to pray at the newly
erected tomb of her husband This re-
markable coincidence of tastes in one so
exalted charms the widow Hoecher, of
course. She is the more enchanted by
the affability Of the gracious countess,
and when that lady informs her that she
has to pay for her husbands tombstone
that afternoon, she is short of money, for
which she has written to her agent in the
country, the honest widow observes that
she has some 700 francs lying about
loose, which she will be delighted to
place at her service. The countess res
ciprocates the generous proffer, and in
vites the widow to call on her the next
day at the Hotel du Bon Lafontaine,
Rue de Grenelle, to dine and get her &C.
commodation back. So they depart, en-
bracing, and, at last accounts, the Widow
Hoecher was still looking for the
Hotel du Bon Lafontaine. Can any one
help her out?
A secondhand dealer at Bellevilie
possessed among his stock battered old
desk, which for months stood at the door,
vainly appealing for purchase. Finally,
it was acquired at a small sum by po-
lite young man, who seemed to be
student. The day after it was sent home
the student came to the dealer in great
agitation. In cleaning the desk out he
had discovered a secret drawer, and IN 1t
package of railway stock certificates
and government bonds, worth go ,OOOf.
He desired to know of whom the desk
had been purchased, so that he might
return the treasure to the proper owner.
The dealer did not remember where he
had got the desk. Besides even if he
did, why return the treasure trove ? The
loser had clearly not missed it, or it
would have been sought for before to-
day. Let them share It and no man the
wiser or worse off. The young man at
first revolted at this proposition, then he
listened and allowed himself to be per-
suaded. The papers should be sold by
the dealer, who had friend who dab
bled in such things. Meanwhile would
the dealer let the lucky finder have some
money to take his girl to the theatre On
He would, and did; $500 francs was
| the amount, and the securities turned
| out to be excellent counterfeits.
Two well-dressed persons fall into
dispute il a wine shop in the Rue Mont
matre, with regard to their respective
muscularity. II will wager you 500
francs to a quart of champagne ! can
throw you," says one. Done" ex-
claims the other, "and our host shall
hold the stakes" Boniface assents, and
orders a couple of magnum on ice. The
disputants put the money up. One has
1000 franc note, the other 500 francs in
bills. The one takes the small bills and
leaves the 1000 franc note in the land
lords hand.
sit will all belong to one of us" they
say, laughing; 80 we may as well keep
it together" They wrestle, but fail to
/ tuTOW one auOtnci 1hSA my So AAOe<
declare the wager off, and call for the
wine on their joint account. Take it
out of the note, and we will divide the
balance" they say; so the landlord
changes the bogus 5000 gives them 1896
good money and takes an oath next
morning to kill the first man who asks
him to hold stakes for him again.
A lady and gentleman, apparently for
eigners of the best style enter jeweler's
at the Louvre. They critically examine
rings, bracelets, and the like, conversing
with animation in English. Finally they
make selection to the value Of 1000
francs, and it is put mp in box, which
the lady places in her reticule. The
gentleman produces his wallet and finds
himself nearly half the money short.
Never mind he is going to his bankers
and they will call on their way back to
their hotel. Meanwhile M. Biblebot can
keep the box reads for them. NJ. Bible
bot keeps it forty-eight hours, and then
finds that it is another box, with frag-
ment of brick IN its cotton batting bow
els instead of gems of price. The sharps
had purchased something from him the
day before, discovered how he put up
things, and what manner of paper and