Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-03-04
A RoeUs POLICEMAN.
How a sBank" OficiaI Wac Very cIeveriy
Swandled


Swlndled.
@When holiday times come around
they make me think of clever swindle
that was played on the bank / was en-
gagged in seven or eight years ago.
1t might be as well to mention the
fact that the speaker was an ex-manager
of a prominent faro bank which once
existed near Broadway and 14th street
you pencil singers" continued he
to the reporter, "don't hear about all
the fly movements or ingenious opera
tions Of crooks Here's a story didn't
give away at the time it happened. ]
was too much ashamed of myself to
'squeaL'
1T was Christmas eve, and we had an
awfully swell crowd in the house.
Give you the names? What do you take
me for? III there's honor among thieves
there should be at least decency among
gamblers; no. no names. Well, was
saying we had US fine blue chip racket
as ever saw spread. 1t beat old time
Saratoga. Three or four of the party
stacked right up to our 50 600 limit, and
the game was making big money deal
after deal.
@Just before IL o'clock there came a
ring for admittance The porter peeped
through the slide and suddenly signaled
me to go to him.
@'Who is it9' / whispered.
Policeman he gasped, his face
showing that elephant skin sort of a
hue which a genuine Africans face
aoos.YuaS rhar. kaio raoIIv cx.araH
II muttered something that you'd
better not print; if the officers visit
meant the notice of raid, which we
sometimes got in friendly way, or an
order TO close up for the night, why, up
went our magnificent game. Besides,
disliked to let the stylish guests present
feel that they had been jeopardized-
bad future advertisement for the place.
So told the porter to give bluff to
anybody who inquired about me in the
room, and slipped outside to interview
the cop in the dimly lighted vestibule.
He was one could not remember as be-
longing in the neighborhood and that
gave the visit serious tinge.
whats up?" asked nervously.
He smiled, and with a slight Irish
accent replied: oh, just nothing at all;
yer needn't get yerself ratified in the
least The captain has the prisint of a
Christmas check from some of the big
storekeepers in the ward, but it didn't
reach him until about an hour ago. He's
going to Boston on the midnight train
to spend Christmas and he wants to
take the cash with him. So he sint me
to ask you if you will oblige him with
currency for it He's writ his name on
the back of it. and the man handed me
neat looking check, drawn for $3.50,
bearing leading merchants name as
signer and Captain IS Endorsement.
II can assure you the explanation and
request put a more cheerful color to the
affair. / lost no time in diving into my
inside pocket aud drawing out five crisp
fifties. handed them to the police.
man, with the check as well. Tell the
captain said I, Pm glad to accommo-
date him, that he may return the money
at his own convenience. and that pre-
fer that he should hold the check, as
his Endorsement to me might compro-
mise him. This was diplomacy; would
hciP w 5tIenSIhen my pulls MAKE
things more solid See9
"'All right" said he, turning to go
out
Let the porter bring out drink for
you, / suggested. He declined with
thank ye, don't want the old man to
smell liquor ON me; I'll have cigar,
though
~I gave him one out of my case; he
lighted it and took the peculiar stroll.
ing gait of cop toward the - pre-
cinct.
"On the morning after Christmas ]
got an express package. 1t contained a
police uniform, helmet and all, a dark
brown wig, and a full dark sandy
beard; also note which read: 4 apollo
gize for again intruding upon the pala-
tial jungle of the Royal Bengal, old fel,
but if you will kindly return thesa
things to the costumer whose card is
inclosed you may keep the SIS deposit
/ left on them on the cath instant. Moth
ing mean about me. '"-[New York
Tribune.