The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-03-13
FAN IMPORTANT CATCH;
The Clever Ruse OF Three Shrewd
SwindlerS.

Swindlers.
Opposite the Bank of England and
about five minutes walk from the Man
sion House, the residence of the Lord
Mayor of London, there was in Leaden-
hail street, in 1879, the shop of a wealthy
matchmaker.
One drcary November morning q man
entered his shop whose loud dress and
louder manner impressed the jeweler
disagreeably. He looked at the swag-
gering fellow, sized him up in a jiffy,
and tipping his clerks the wink to be
extra careful, stepped forward and
said in his sharpest tone: ''Well, sir?'
The fellow was not u bit abashed.
"Aw," he said, in an unnistakablc
low cocllney voice, I'VE ave been very
fghiy recommended to mo-factis, want
to get about a thousan puns' worth of
watches from you. am going to the
West Indies by to-morrow's steamer,
and want to make this little hinvest-
mont on me own haccount. Now, re-
member, nc good friend" he added,
laughingly, my name is cash-cash,
yc know. So want no fancy prices,
but every thing first-class and bottom
rates.
The jcweler, keeping Il 3harp lookout
all the while. showed him his various
styles, and in very short time the fell
low selected abouS $1,000 worth of
watches.
just G392, 15s," said the jcwcler
Every well, 'ere'.s thousand puns.
Just wrap up the swag and 81 me the
change, will yc?'
"You must excuse me-" said tho jew
eler, aftcr funblinG u little while at
his safe, ''but l can't change this note.
Just sit down a few minutes and III
send the boy over to the bank Here,
John, take this to the bank And then
in an undcrtone he added: Just find
out if the bill Is good. Don't cash it,
have plenty of change here" The
stranger calmly seated himself and
quietly convcrsed with the jewcler.
In a few minutes the boy returned.
''Thc note is perfectly good he said
softly to his employer. The merchant
was puzzled. Was it possible that he
co',ld be mistaken? However, there
- ilOllltlltSS SloC " W NlcLlSs ~ ltS
Fandud the man his change and the
package of watches. He was about to in
quirc by what steamer his customer was
going to leave, when the door opened
and another more loudly dressed indi-
vidual walked in. He looked at the
first fellow, and, without minding the
jcwcler, who watched him narrowly,
be slapped him laundering whack on
thc shoulders and cried out:
''Hullo, Jack, what in goodness are
you doing 'crc?"
"Hullo, Joe! where do you come
from? | bought some watches ere
''The dickens we did! | am ere just
on the same hcrrand. And what did
you buy watches for?"
81 am going to the West Indies
by the holy poker, SO am l! What
steamer"
THE jamaica"
"Deuce take it all. so an l. Well,
now, NE good fellow, just stay here till
same stuff you do. just 'elp me select. i
''Of course will. 'Ow much are you
going to hinvest?"
"Nell. about Il thousan puns." The
icweler by this time had become thor
'oughly awake. He felt sure the coul
was now coming and he doubled his
watchfulncss. With due care he dis
played his goods, and the two fellow:
bad soon selected another one Thousand
pounds sterling worth of watches
Like number one, Il one thousand pound
sterling note was offered in payment
for number two. This time the jew
clcr felt sure that the note was for
gerry.
II have just told your friend" said he
THAT [ haven't change enough in my
safe. 1t is annoying, but if you'll kind
ly wait moment I'll send the boy owe
TO the bank with the note. Just mallt
yourselves comfortable, gentlemen; tn,
boy will be back in an instant" In
few minutes the boy returned, and agail
nc muttercd:
THE note is perfectly good" TIL
ieweler was more aStounded than ever
After all he had been mistaken in thes
two misunderstanding characters an
his sharpness was mt fault. lie coul
scarcely believe it. His wcll-knowl
.shrewdness, his knowledge Of huma
nature, needed correction. Incompre
hcrsiblc He handed the man hi
change and package and was still cor
versing with the two when suddcnl
the door was pushed open and biz
burly policeman bounced in. He lai
his strong hands on both men. "Jac
Halloran." he said, land Joe Nintei
bottom, arrest you in the name of til
Queen! Steady now, my men, and
fuss, if you please. The game is up!
have plenty of help outside. So just Il
Gnc put these little ornaments on you
wrists, and the quicker you are about
the better all around"
The jcweler chuckled. After all /
had been right, and these fellows wei
.Sharpcrs. lie nodded his head cor