The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-06-05
AN OVER. CONFIDENT MAN BUYS A
LITTLE EXPERIENCE.

An awkward-looking man walked
somewhat timidly up to the hotel clerk
and asked if Armund Withersbee was in
his room, says the New York Tribune.
Armand WitheIsbee?n replied the hotel
clerk. Don't know h;m!"
Hasn't he room here?" asked the
man.
NO"
mot parlor D, on the second floOr?"
he gasped, as he mopped his face with
his handkerchief and produced a check
for 800 payable to Armand Wither-
bee" drawn on the Fourth National
bank.
"Dld he tell you he lived here?n asked
the clerk,
"Yes," answered the man, "and he
promised to be here at p. m. sharp, TO
repay me the $40 he borrowed from
me.
''Been lending him money, eh?'
"Why, yes, but he gave me good Sc
curity. | wouldn't lend money to per-
son had only known for a few hours
without good security, He gave me this
check for $780,
GLOW much did you lend him on the
check?"
Forty dollars"
"The bank was closed and he had to
get the money somewhere at once to
meet pressing claim, eh?n
"Why yes, that was it, exactly. How
did you know it?''
Hear of them every day." replied the
clerk, land see their victims"
"Victims?"
eyes, victims. You're one of them,
too"
CLOVIS that?"
"You've been swindled.n
"AIe swindled?"
eyes, you. You ought to know bet
ter than to lend money to casual ac-
quaintances you may make in this great
city You must learn to keep your eyes
open and read the newspapers. It's
pretty rank greenhorn that would be
taken in by that rank old dodge
''Tll thank you not to call me green
horn" replied the man in an angry tone
of voice; I'm not fool, | can tell you.
can read character in the face. This
Mr.. Withersbee struck me as an honest
man, and I'm sure he'll come here to re-
deem his check"
"Bet you he doesn't" said the clerk.
I'm not betting man," replied the
other, 'but I'm going to sit here awhile
anu wall lOT MI. w lJutISDtt.
"All right" answered the clerk. sit
down."
The man sat down and kept his eye
steadily on the door for about half an
hour.
"Still think he's going to come, eh?''
sneered the clerk.
yes; amt going to abandon my
faith in human nature yet He'll come,
sure"
''Bet you ten dollars he don't" said
the clerk.
"Well, I'll risk it." replied the man.
who'll hold the stakes?n
"The elevator boy" said the clerk.
Two ten dollar bills were put up and
the man sat down TO wait again. Be
fore ten minutes had elapsed, a man
bustled in, went straight up to the clerk
and threw down card on which was
engraved Armand Withersbee.n
"Has anybody been asking for me?''
he said. Then without wal ing for an
answer he turned about and let his eye
fall on the man who had the check.
With an exclamation of pleasure he sa-
uted the man, excused his lateness, pro-
duced forty dollars in crisp bills, handed
them over, procured his check and in
vited the lender TO drink.
The clerk looked on in amazement,
while the awkward man reached for the
elevator boy, got the twenty dollars, de-
clined to drink, took the arm of With
ersbee and marched out with him tri-
umphantly.
As they passed out they had an indie
scribable, but unmistakable air of com
panionship about them that made the
clerk kick himself and eXclaim angrily:
"Done again, by jimmy! Pals, certain!
might have known it!n