The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-06-24

by him went to the Office of morn
Ilng paper and had an advertise
ment inserted in the coming morn
ng issue. Offering reward of $50 for
|its return, and promising to ask no
questions. / had also a number of bills
struck which were distributed along
Broadway early in the morning. /
advertised in the name of "Zero,v
r0om number 127 --- hotel,
forgot all about business on the
mllowing day and patiently waited.
About four p. NJ. that afternoon when
NE mail for the hotel was delivered,
me clerk handed me letter address
"a ''Zero," !" room No. 127. Eagerly 1
Wre 1t open and found the following
llpte enclosed "Zero" can have his
Dockat-b0ok and notes, &C., by being
at lamp post opposite 18th Street, on
left side of Broadway going towards
Central Park, at s p. M. He must be
there at 8, and stand under it till s. Is
when will DELIVER the pocket book,
provided he pay me $50 and ask no
questions. If he tries to have aE ar
rest made it will I've useless, as our
gang will blow his brains out. Well,
| was highly gratified at the pros
pect of obtaining my property, even
under the above requirements and
threat. Promptly at 8P. M. l stood
under the named lamp post, and
thought that Is minutes would never
pass. AT exactly 144 minutes past
eight a we'll dressed man with a heavy
beard stepped across the street and
stood before me. He simply said in
a low voice, Zero" answered yes.
Have you the $50, l said yes again.
He then drew from his pocket the
identical book, He then said no
question, but you will find all just as
you had it. | handed him the money
and lie gave me the book. Being
very anxious to know how he had
obtained it, had a So bill ready and
showing it to him / said | want TO
to ask you question. No question
was the bargain, he said in a threat
ing manner. l said yes, but l only
ask for curiosity. He said be quick
then.
1 handed him the S. and told him
to please inform me how he obtained
the pocket'book without my know
ing it. Well, he replied while you
were walking down Broadway l was
beside you and concluded you were a
good subject. and while you were in
the jam at the auction l got near while
two confederates pushed you behind.
made grab for your breast pocket,
just AS you were showed nearly off
your feet from behind and santched
the book. Strange 1 had no recolec-
ton of feeling his hand under my
coat, or the extraction of the book.
AS | said before l like to let people
know how smart L am, and opening
my coat showed him the other book
and told him if he had reached on
that side his prize would haye been
$1,000. Just at that moment, he re-
qpested me 10 walk along as he
feared some policeman would notice
Us talking so long, and he would
give me little advice. l handed
him cigar and lighting one myself
we walked some two or three squares.
Never. said he, carry money in your
coat pocket, and do not let a crowd
push you, and above all, meyer again
show money as you did just now, for
l could have knocked you down,
secured the pocket-boOk and made
my escape before any arrest could
have been made, as l haye number
of partners in this crowd, some OF
whom have watched you for fear you
might try to grip me, and let me
assure you If l had taken the other
book no reward would ever have Sc.
cured it for you. He then said he
must drop behind. But during ouI
short walk he had been showed very
hard against me and used some stray
language to the crowd. AS ! left him
| walked on, well pleased at the re-
covery of my property and thinking
he was rather a gentleman after all
l turned and walked back to m
hotel, as l thought, wiser and ricf
man than an hour ago. But here
soon found out my mistake. ! hap
pened to feel If the book and note.
was all right and naturally thought
of my greenback book at the same
time. Reader, can you believe it my
greenback pocket-book was gone
How could l have been so gulled
He had during our short walk stoler
it! Aud all my own folly! Had
taken my notes, given the rewart
and asked no questions and above al
not shown my other one, 1 woulC
have had all. Here was far create