The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-11-09
FASCINATION IN FRAUD.


swir oilers in Petticoats who work
Through tho Mails-An Expert In
the Art Tells How Susceptible
Young Men Arc Made Victims Un.
AWares.
New York Times.
A petite woman, richly and Hastily
dressed in modest colors, walked rapid
ly past Fifth Avenue Hetel just before
noon the other day. A Times reporter
came out of the hotel and started leisure.
ly down the avenue just behind her.
There was about him that air of indif-
ference which unconsciously attaches
itself to all reporters who are not con-
Aected with the only paper which cir
culates exclusively among the best fam.
ilies." The fact that the brilliant drip.
pings of his pen were not fated to OBJ
security in its pages made him pensive
as well as Indifferent, and caused him to
saunter. AS he reached the Twenty.
third street corner the young woman,
who had hesitated and finally stopped,
approached him and said:
Excuse me fol- troubling you. sir; but
might ask you to do me slight favor?"
The reporter lifted bis hat and uncon-
sciously remarked: "You might, but I
warn you in advance / am not connected
with that paper which boasts Of the
largest circulation among the best PEG.
pie"
The petite woman looked up, and, with
somewhat peculiar smile. said: "But
I didn't think You we're Police Gazette
reporter" The young reporter felt re-
lieved, and willingly offered his services
in the execution of any commission that
might be given him. Daintily-gloved
fingers dropped dime into the hand of
the reporter as the woman said: twill
you step to the newsstand in the Fifth
Avenue Hotel and get me a copy of the
Hotel Reporter Of this morning? Il will
cost ten cents. It is high-priced, and
contains little that one wants to read;
but, unlike any other paper, it is useful
for my purposes"
The request was an unusual one. The
speaker was bright and intelligent, a
woman whose manner betOkened some.
thing Of refinement. There was, too,
something In her manner which seemed
familiar TO the Times man, and which
made him Involuntary think of his
New England home. As the impromptu
messenger went into the hotel he met
Detective Pryor, who said, ''Be a little
careful, my boy, she's a shrewd one."'
"Who is she, and for what does she
want to see Hotel Rsporter?"
r. h her, perhaps, a she'll H.. tell you
The Tip" was sufficient. Might it not
he worked successfully for q solution of
the strange commission. The familiar
face and voice haunted the reporter as
he went down the corridor to the news
stand. The picture of little school.
house in busy Connecticut town haun-
ted him, and the central figure of the
picture was the face of the little woman
outside. 1t was younger, fresher, lesf
carevorn. Yet it was the same. There
was the same music in the voice, the
same color in the eye. The child, de-
velOped into the woman, would be like
that woman on the sidewalk. The
name came back, too. But 1t was thai
of an old playmate, the daughter of 6
prominent manufacturer. Could the
two be identical?
ssYour commission is fulfilled. Here il
your paper, Miss Blank"
The experiment was successful, the eff
feet electrical. The little woman started
% though she had been struck, for the
name was an uncommon one.
& Do you know me, them" The little
woman looked at her inQuisitor. ut il
fifteen, yes twenty years, since / saw
YOU, If you are, as l suppose you L
be-" The little woman had called the
questioner by his correct Christian name
and surname. The identity Of both be.
Ing established and acknowledged, the
little woman said: "Let US walk
hear or observe u.s.
1t is lunch-time. Let US 20 and gel
luncheon, and then tell me why you
wanted a copy of the Hotel Reporter, il
you can crafty my curiosity" The sug.
gestion was the reporters. Seated at
the table in coy corner, the waiter
having been induced to make himself
agreeable by watching.the demolition oil
the meal from distance, the little
woman related her story. It was rev
/ citation of phase of life which attaches
to great cities only. It was
the story of an adventures.
Its peculiarities are known to
the detectives, to the victims, to the
people Of the class to which the little
/ woman belonged, but not to the public
at large, who are told in the newspapers
| only Of the successes of the male half OF
this class. The preface of her story was
the sad one which belongs to the life Of
30 many hundred women. 1t is old.
yet always new. Its le1son il
often taught is never learned
save BY experience. 1t was that Of a
beautiful girl, highly educated. There
was summer filtration with a chance
acquaintance. True love was an element
N this one. 1t has remained one
through many years. Though the young
man was graduate of Harvard, con.
nected with one of Boston's best TAMIL
les and with some little fortune, her
took place clandestinely. He became 1
he went west, failed to retrieve Ills for
tunes in legitimate business. and became
professional gambler. A few years
ago he made New York his home. The
wife had been pressed into service rs
his assistant in the west, first az hostess
at ms establishment, where her Quiet,
iady-llke ways, her vivacious converse.
ton and ready wit served to lessen the
sung OF the losses sustained by victims.
particularly when she dealt the cards at
the faro-table or took hand at poker.
casino or cribbage. Her ten years OF
married life and the life of gambler
have not materially lessened the charms
OF the little Connecticut woman. and
she counts her victims with tens where
her husband counts his with units.
1.-The Hotel Reporter serves us in lieu
OF ,cappers, said the little woman.
There is no division of pr fits with the
publishers. Do you never meet gentl =
men at the hotels who receive myste.
rlous letters from unknown correspon.
depts9 They are always written ON ma.
terials of the finest, couched In language
not only polite, bnt sufficiently familiar
to induce the recipient to conclude he
knows the sender. though he is wholly
unacquainted. They often take the
shape ofinvitations 70 dinner, to 4 the.
stef party, or. il an inspection of the
person warrants it, to q clandestins
meeting. In the last named case they
are signed by my own or my assumed
name. These are addressed only to
s1sta men e. l think know nse By reason |
q chence meetinEs in cities where I
nave lived, and who do not know nv
buanea.. Every man 10 more or Iecs
and wicked, and h lesifi-
mate esme 70 Auch a. I. u f
/, y ~ on spQleesol An .inspc ction warrant.
IsnGa Mnstk of address, HDYjsi
lssslef ,6l t6s @onlsy, whic
B aisalt aI17 r.