Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1892-01-22
HE COULD OPEN THE BOX.
A Seattle Man Taken In and Done For
in Washington, D. G.

OuSlt W iidNC hliOWu UelLtI,
marked a well-known Seattle man this
morning, mournfully, in the presence
of Press-Times reporter. "I had
been around enough TO have my eye
teeth cut, but got roped in at Wash
ington, ID. c., recently, in way that ]
am almost ashamed to tell"
"How was that?" asked a gentle
man in the company.
"Well, I'll tell you all about it, and
then you may all smile-no, laugh-at
my expense.
"You see, had been East on busi.
ness, and was returning home by way
OF Washington, ID. G. Having only a
day to spare, and being unfamiliar
with the city, was naturally inclined
to see as many places in as short a
time as possible, and, when near the
capitol grounds, l was accosted by a
man who claimed to be a professional
guide. at first thought l would en-
ploy him, but afterwards decided not
to do SO.
"Aftel he had passed I changed my
mind, however, and hunted him up. /
asked him how much he would charge
to take me around the city, and he
said so cents. This seemed very cheap
to me, and l at once closed with him.
"The first place we visited was the
horticultural department.
"What is that pretty flower called?'
l asked of my guide.
al do not know was the reply.
THAT chimed in a by-stander, is
species of orchid-it is very rare.'
THANK you,' l replied, I am very
much interested in flowers
$50 am l, replied my chance ac'
quaintance. i am stranger in the
city. l came here from the West tC
get patent on little box, and have
only few hours to see the city,
"'I am also trying to CO Washing
ton in as short time as possible.
have employed this man as a guide
and if you like should be pleased to
have you accompany me-
"The stranger thankfully accepted
my proposition. He proved 10 be 9
good companion, and l rather liked
him. He showed me the box or
which he hoped to get a patent. II
was a very ingenious device, and 1 hat
to practice some time before l could
open it, and then only after its owner
had explained the idea to me.
"After a while we strolled out to-
wards Washington monument. When
near that massive structure we met the
greenest specimen of humanity I had
ever seen. Hayseed seemed literally
ShuSiiS " iio diiiCutc.
"'Say, mister said he, addressing
me, what time might it be?'
al told him the time, and he at once
began explaining his business. He
was going to do the town. He had 6
pile but he knew enough to keep it
In evidence of what he said he dis
played big roll OF bills. He talked
in such Dragging tone that it sort o.
gave a person desire to show him
that he was not quite SO sharp as he
thought himself, and when my com
panion displayed his box and Offered
to bet the greeny that he could moi
open it, l smiled in my sleeve to think
how the countrywide would be done
up, provided he made a bet.
"Oh, gosh, that amt nothing ex
claimed the countryman, l can open
that as easy as rolling off a log
"'Tll bet you $40 you can't ex
claimed my companion.
"'Put up your stuff said the coun
tryman, pulling out roll of bills and
selecting bright new $50, which he
handed the guide.
"My companion felt in his pockets
in a nervous sort of way, and ther
turning to me, said:
Well, declare, Mr.. Blank, I must
have left my pocketbook at the hotel
Would you Oblige me with twenty
for moment?'
"Seeing not the remotest possibility
of losing my money, and having sor,
of desire to have the countrymar
taught lesson, l handed out the SIC
without the least suspicion or uneasi
ness. The countryman took the box
fumbled with it few moments, and
presto! it came open as easy as you
please.
In a sort OF stupified way saw my
money transferred to the pocket of the
countryman. He left us with laugh
ing:
"'Ta-ta. boys; I'll see you later
Shortly afterwards my friend with
the box, my guide and myself separat
ed, the box man having taken my ad
dress and promised to send the money
around in the afternoon.
"Then for the first time it occurred
to me that l had been made q very
willing dupe. at once went to the
police, but was laughed at for my pains
and told that the trick was as old al
most as Washington itself, and that
ought to have known better than to bt
so easily gulled. And that is all the
satisfaction / got.
but the worst part OF my story i.
yet to come. The loss of my $40 tool
SO much OF my ready cash that hat
to live on crackers and cheese all the
way back to Seattle"
A SMALL. slOOD. containing ten China