Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-09-28
STEERED INTO A DEN
A READING MAN's fARROW ES-
carr FROM BU,KO WORkERs.

Inve,gied ny a stylish Young Man into a
stylish New York House D,awiog
Conducted Amid surroun diags CaIcuIa-
ted to Dazzle the Unsophi.ticntsd.
From Morning Editonl
READING, Sept. 27.-E. b. Smith, secretary
and treasurer of the Reading Grs company,
aged 20, white haired and white whiskered,
but quite active for his age, arrived home
from New York to-day. When a.ked about
his having been in bunco steerer's den 10
New York, he replied:
at is quite true. Ny grandson Eddie.
aged ten, and myself lett my family at the
Sturtevant hotel and strolled down Broad
way. Suddenly WAS sccosted by spruce
looking young man, who introduced himself
as the son OF my friend, George Brooke, Of
Birdsboro, saying he had just returned from
! Germany. | knew Brooke had son
abroad, and listened to him as he went on
to tell about his trip and sl about the family
at home and my business connection in
Reading. He was very well informed, ele-
gantly dressed, well educated aud knew all
abou, the Brooke iron business at home, the
largest corporation at this end of the Schuyl-
kill valley. mad not the slightest doubt but
that the yourg man was just the person he
represented himself to be. Then the young
man said
"1 have just won a $500 prize and two
sets Of the complete history Of the war. A
German friend induced me to invest for
pas'ime, and consented. | have no use for
two sets, and should be pleased to present
you with one.'
al at once consented. We took a Broad
way car 10 + ghteenth street, walked over to
Third avenue, and thence 10 Fourteenth
street. Midway between Second and Third
avenues is pair OF brown stone houses. We
entered one, and on the first fpor found a
room looking like commercial Office. The
walls were hung with pictures OF ocean
steamers. A dapper young clerk sat behind
desk. He was sharp as a steel trap Ny
young friend Brooke claimed his prizrs, and
produced a letter signed DreIel, Morgan l.
Co. to identity him. Besides his prizes he
had also drawn an extra ticket. He ordered
the clerk to send his books to the hotel, and
took the cash prize at once. He looked at
the extra ticket, and in tones Of am zemen,
exclaimed to the clerk:
"Why, sir, am sorry this tickets draw
ing wont take place until next week. can't
stop in this city that long | want to 20 home
with my fried, Mr.. Smith, here
THE clerk was sorry, but finally said
We'll, Just to accommodate you, you can
draw now
He then produced board with painted
numbers on IT. from one up to sixty. Some
numbers were marked with priz 5 The clerk
handed out n bunch of sealed en- elopes, some
containing numbers and others blanks
Young Brooke drew 20, which was a blank.
He then with careless laugh asked me to
draw just tor fun, but | refused. We'll, lie,
Eddy draw. He bought my grandson ticke,
and the boy drew nun Der " hich the clerk said
drew $500. The clerk promptly counted
$500 in what looked to be crisp bank bills,
and was just handing the notes to Eddie when
| became scared. seemed suddenly to real.
ize that something was wrong. told item
that we did not want the money, and seeing
the door sjtr, look hold of Eldys hand
and both OF US hurried out. | subsequen "
learned that ! WAS 10 the hands of bogus
Brooke and II smart bunco steerer. wal
never 30 much surprised in all my life. Those
two young men were the smartest fellows
ever met with. Pity they are not in legiti.
mate bus sness."