Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-02-03
A BLACK BAG.
Eucherinc a Confidence Man.

lHcIc WcIt Hull uOLcu OF us anu VIC
were killing time in comfortable enough
hotel in little village not far from Brat
tleboro, VT. 1t was wretched night late
in November, with high. raw wind and
a pitiless rain The members of the COM
pany were strangers TO one another. thrown
together by the chance of travel. But
they all seemed socially inclined. and rs
they sat around the big fire that bazed on
the ample hearth of the bar-room each one
of them contributed something more or
less interesting TO the conversation. All
except drover who kept silence for a
long time till remark about confidence
men and counterfeit money dealers brought
out from him the following story:
Gentlemen, I'm almost 80 years old.
What tell you happened more than
quarter of century back in fact, when l
was still a youngstcr. Perhaps some of
the rest of you once had wild oats that you
were foolish enough TO SOW The worst
use you can put wild oats to is to sow
them. But that's neither here nor there
| got one of those green goods circulars,
so called, in the summer of 1853. | was
then living IN Maine. 1t came to me from
Boston by mail Well | was n stripping,
inexperienced, grcener than grass, reck
less. and tolerab!y fond of money. The
circular appealed TO my cupidity and l
determined 10 slip down TO Boston TO see
what the green goods were like. | had
- 900 in a bank in Augusta, "A legacy
from my aunt and ! drew out 81 600 be
fore left Maine determined if the count
erfeits were first class 10 invest all of ii in
them. OF course | was IN ass and some
thing worse-but let that pass The cir
cular said when ! got to Boston
| was TO 60 To a certain saloon in
the south end of the town and inquire
for Samuel Hall, and that TO prevent
any mistake in regard to who was who on
meeting Samuel was to return TO him the
circular in the envelope in which II came
/ obeyed these directions, and had little
difficulty in finding samuel He wore
patent leather boots and plug hat with
Grape halfway TO its top. | remember
thinking he must have lately lost a rea-
tive, and that it was little rough on his
feelings TO intrude business on his sorrow.
But his manner treasured me. He greet
cd me with great cordiality and presently
invited me to 70 around to his rooms and
see the green goods. Ills rooms proved
10 be at the top OF nigh building in an.
other part Of the town. Reaching them
he took biz leather wallet from one of
his pockets and spread out on the table
before me a number of new, crisp green
backs-fives, tens, twenties and tifties |
examined them with perfect amazement,
never having dreamed that counterfeiting
could be carried to such pitch Of perfec-
zion. After had carefully inspected the
samples Samuel remarked, in earnest
tones:
Now. don't want YOU to take these
goods solely on my representation.
always treat my customers fair and square,
and don't wish them to treat with me I'M
less they are perfectly satisfied that they
are getting the worth of their money.
Suppose YOU 60 out on the street and test
these goods. Here, take these" (handing
me five, ten, and II twenty; go To u
bank or brokers' Office and see if you
have any difficulty in changing them.
That's a conclusive test of their merit,
isn't lt2'
| replied that didn't see how n test
could be more satisfactory, and after tit
tie urging | did rs Samuel suggested.
Taking the twenty into brokers' office,
not without trcpidation asked TO be nc
Commodated with four fivcs for IT, The
broker handed me four tives quicker than
a wink. Next | went into a bank, and
producing two other samples inquired of
the teller il they were good. lie sharply
scrutinizcd them and answered. Good as
the wheat" That settled it. | returned
to Samuel quite prepared to invest my en-
tire 81 900 in his excellent green goods,
bitterly regretting that | hadn't my re-
naming $1,000 with me. We'll, said
Samuel, with the smile Of confidence upon
his face Us | rc.cntered his room, how did
my goods stand the testf' | made my re-
port, whcreupon he continued, with the
air Of Old Reliability himself, I'D scorn
to bring man clear down from Maine to
purchase goods of me that were not \
No l."
Well, after some further talk I pur.
chased $4,000 of the green goods OF
Samuel, paying my 81 900 for them. He
, remarked at this point he was not accus
toned 10 give every customer that came
along rs good terms as he offered me, but
that he had taken a great fancy TO me be
, cause / reminded him Of pet cousin OF
his, great favorte in society, who haC
, died few years previous. With this he
excused himself, saying he would go and
get the green goods. lie was absent about
/ half an hour and on his return counted
out $40 600 in my presence most Of then
In twenties and fiftes. This done, ht
placed the bills in neat black satche
, which he generously offered to give IN,
> without extra charge; locked the satche
Z and handed me the key, remarking
, There you are" Then | handed Over
my 81 900. lie counted the money ant
I carefully deposited it in an inside poke
/ of his vest with the one word: Correct
/. Then he quietly observed, in tones o
n fatherly solicitude
q IF were you I'd have that satcnel sem
q 10 your address in Maine by express. lt''
q the safest plan.
' While he was giving me this advic,
there came knock ut the door Samuc
q exclaimed in an excited whisper:
place your satchel in that closet ovel
! there and keep mum. There's no telling
o who that u.s.
n Accordingly, placed the satchel In tn,
1 closet and kept mum. The knock wa
q repeated.
4 Come in. said Samuel A nice.loolS
!. ing. fashionably dressed gentleman en-
tered who, on observing me. remarked
"Ah. Samuel. see you have company
so will not stop now. Can i have
word with your" Samuel excused him
!. self To me rs politely as you please. and
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