Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-02-18
DODGES OF THE TIME

Money are Parted.
According to confession made by
railroad conductor, in Chicago, the other
day, persons of his calling pocket q
great deal of money by rascality, as in
dicated in what follows members of
the legislature, state officers, editors,
and others holding annual passes con-
stantly violate the mot transferable"
rule. The conductor studies faces and
sees to it that every real pass-holder shall
be known at sight. Rascally conductors
keep books with descriptions of the
men jotted down. The statesman lends
his pass to Tom, Dick and Harry. "As
an example," said the conductor who
confessed, zone day last month man
handed me senator's pass. I went on
through the train and when I returned
to his seat noticed that he was furried.
An easy victim, thought Now said
1, you are not Senator -; here is his
description land pulling out my book
read, Senator -, rail-, dark hair, 40,
annual 0197'). The man who was little
and red headed tlembIed all over. l
could see that he wouldn't have the
thing get out for hundred dollars.
He tried to smile, but I looked deter
mined. Then he began to enter into
a long explanation of how Senator -
had pressed the pass upon him and
wound up by handing me twenty-dol-
lar bill to pay his fare. When 1 told
him that would have trouble to get the
note changed, he smiled and said,
Never mind so I kept the whole bill.
The conductor was caught by detec-
tive of the company in the way de-
scribed. By that and other tricks he had
made 81 1000 during his connection
with the road.
"The patent wagon-tongue man" has
been having things ,retty much his
own way among the Missouri farmers.
He is of genteel appearance and pleas
ing address. He drives up to farmers
house and during. his talk with the
farmer let's him know what big bust
ness he is doing with certain wagon
tongue patent. He is on his way
home, and as he may not be back in
that county the farmer can have the
right for the county for $3.50. If the
farmer should want it he may just
write. In a few days the swindler's
confederate happens along. He has
learned that the farmer has the right of
the county for the patent wagon.tongue,
and as he made big thing out of it in
Nebraska, he wants to buy the right of
the county for $400. He. pays $40
down tc bind the bargain. The farmer
at once writes to No. l. sending his
note for $3.50. He never hears of either
Of the men again, but his note comes
for collection in the neighboring town,
all the same.
A Philadelphia visitor in San Fran
cisco was walking along quiet street
of residences about two weeks ago,
when he observed aseedy-looking youth
stoop eagerly and pick a shining object
from the pavement. "What lucky
find |" exclaimed the youth, turning to
the Philadelphian, ''she's a twenty
dollar fellow, isn't she?" The latter eyed
the object and saw that it was a gold
nugget pin, similar to small nuggets
frequently carried by miners and others
on the Pacific coast. "It's windfall
to me, for I'm dead broke" continued
the youth, "I'll run right down town
and sell her" "What do you want fol
| Iva tscACt tiAO khoNto pOOpihR flCLlu, wiz
thought he had chance to turn an
honest penny. "I am so hard up
believe I'll take ten dollars" The
hoodlum got his ten dollars and the
Philadelphian, as he sfterward dis
covered, got his penny's worth of brass
The dodge is said to be the most
troublesome on that coast.
Shortly after the heads of the houses
along street on Champion Hill, Lon.
don, had gone to their business one
day IT Gently, man planted photo
graphic apparatus in conspicuous
place. 1t was bright morning. In
few moments the groups of women.
children and babies on the steps were
charming.
The views, as the artist assured his sit
ters, were perfect; the charge levied
for each view was low and cheerfully
paid, and the clever scamp left Cham
pion Hill after actually registering al
his customers and promising to brint
the photographs on day named. M