The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-05-25

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The bunco man. trained 10 this
work. needs not 10 write these entries
down 20 remember them lie runs
them over twice. and can then recall
them % the letter a. any time until
tho job Is over. He approaches the
victim. who has moved leisurcly along
In the meantime. pleasantly bows Is
no reaches him. coughs slightly and
says
WHY. good morning, Mr.. smith
Ill . pleasure 10 meet you In New
York. How are your folks. and how
Il my uncle. Jabex Jaggs?"
He may vary this according to his
man. He may address him n squire.
judge. Colonel. Major and Captain.
He u pretty certain to use . military
title II upon Smiths person he has
seen Grand Army button. badge. or
other insignia He may use the judi
cial title II the victim looks as II he
had ever been a justice Of the peace.
court clerk. constable or other official
For to AL such the words squire and
judge have strangely sweet and
fascinating sound II makes but little
difference what words are used. Those
which are employed are pleasantly
put and make Smith believe 81 the
outset that here is some one who
knows him and his and who is glad 10
see him in the great wilderness where
he Il already lonely and unhappy.
There may be some mistake. however.
| So smiling at his new-found acquaint-
ance he slowly drawls out:
| II reckon you've got the best Of
me, my friend. cant place you TO
save my burned old eyes!'
| The victory Is half won. The bunco
| in second has seen that the man is
glad to meet an acquaintance. and
what is more important. that he does
not suspect He adds heartily:
'.well. wouldn't be surprised l
haven't been there now for three
years and the last time / was on
only stayed week I'm Charlie
Jaggs. son Of Edward. who 10 the
brother Of Jabez, the president Of your
First National Bank. met you last
talking one day on some loan or other
business to Snow. the secretary. How
are all yonr folks?'
| This ninety mine times out Of hum
dred more than satisfies Smith In all
probability he has slight acquaint-
anceship and a profound awe for
Jaggs. the local millionaire Snow he
knows better from having had slight
financial operations with him. A .
result he Is delighted NJ being regarded
| in New York as the friend Of q man
who has intimate relations with the
| Treasury NJ Washington and the Stock
Exchange in Wall street He un-
bosonls himself to the bankers nephew.
and for dreary quarter-hour tells the
| interminable tale Of measles among
his children. pip in the chickens. dry
rot in the potatoes his daughters en-
gagcmcnt 70 his neighbor's son. aud
all the other details Of bucolic life
The next step i to further impress
Smith - well As 10 please him. The
bunco man takes his victim TO the bar
Of some irst-class hotel where mer-
chants. politicians and prominent men
ccngregate. A popular delusion Il
that IL is low saloon or dark grog-
gerry. II never Is except BY the least
skillful cooks Up TO the bar they
20. IL Smith uses intoxicants 50 much
the worse for him. As they stand
near the cleaning crystal and silver
the bankers nephew points out the
| celebrities
That's Channcey ~ Depew" (bow-
ing to some politician who family re-
sembles the great wit and Railroads.&c.
and who bows effusivcly in return.
as nearly all New York politicians are
in the habit Of doing.) That's ex-
Mayor Grace there drinking cham
paigne with his brother. They are
worth e10O00.00 and never drink
any thing else That big man is the
hotel detective. He arrests every
criminal who dares to come in the
house. It's = good thing. because il
protects man from ueSPSE1tc CHAR
actcrs. and that's what makes this place
% popular with gentlemen and bush
ness men"
| So runs the glib talk Of the bunco
man. II IL calculated to deceive the
best critics." rs the Bank Note Rsporf-
e. appropriately phrases Il. and itdoes
deceive the listener whose horizon for
years has been the boundaries Of his
town. The audacity displayed Is
sometimes bewildcring They have
taken their victims into the rogues'
"a lery. into the mayors Office. the
common council chamber and the
court Of sessions They have intro
duccd him 10 editors. hotel keepers,
public officials and on one occasion. Il
d reported. to the mayor himself
Confidence one gained the operator
begins the second act Of the drama
This Is to take his prey to the place
where one or moro colleagues are
awaiting his arrival. and where the
~rts.l swinIlc II pcructrated. The