The record-union., 1892-12-23
THE ADVENTURES.
confidence" Women as They Really
Are.
Not the Type Seen in Novels, but
as She is in Real Life
Clever Dodges.

1t is an awful thing to think Of women
depending for livelihood on dishonest
schemes, by means of which they man
age to extort from gullible humanity suf-
ticent to keep them in genteel idleness.
Yet bunco and confidence women exist
just as largely as the male prototypes,
though whether from their natural
womanly timidity that has not been
crushed out by their unwomanly voca-
ton, or because they are satisfied with
less, women beats seldom go in for the
making of very large sums.
1t is surprising how well they work
their schemes, with little or no chance of
detection, because after it is all over the
victim feels such on idiot to have been
taken in by a woman that the swindle is
kept a secret, less the world should know
how easily they had been deceived.
one clever little dodge is for woman
to ring a door bell frantically and inquire
in agitated tones for the lady of the house.
On being ushered into the presence Of the
one whom she wishes to see she at once
apologies for the intrusion, and then in
a voice chOked by tears tells a mournful
tale of having lost her purse and being
unable to get back to her home in the
"
away from her present sitting. Dear
madam" she goes on, Il came in because
l was half frantic when [ discovered my
loss. What snail | do, what shall l do?
l have not a single friend in the great
city, and have nothing to give you as Sc
cGrity for loan but this little locket con-
tanning my dead baby's hair" AS she
is usually in deep mourning Grape and
confidence going together presumably,
the heart OF the one appealed to is touched
by grief so recent, and she gives her
willingly the sum necessary to get the
visitor to her home.
If a business instinct crops up the locket
is held as security, and in either case the
address of the unfortunate is given amid
prOfuse thanks, mingled with tears of re-
liefat her escape from so fearful a predica-
ment. AS the days pass on, and no 81 50
is forthcoming, If the security is at hand,
it is brought forth TO be proven nothing
but brass, and the address given turns
out q fictitious one.
1t is an awful lot of acting for 81 so, but
three successful cases day mean a pretty
fair income if it can be kept up. Ficti-
tious orphans in distress, tor whom the
charitable lady is collecting small sums
with which to aid them. is another neat
scheme. The latest dodge is one that is
practiced on uEsuspicious shop-keepers.
A neat little body, looking the dressmaker
to the life, goes to the counter where the
etceteras Of a gown are sold, and orders a
bill of five or six dollars worth, which
she has charged to a certain wealthy Gus
toner. Representing herself as said
lady's Seamstress, she is allowed to de-
part with the bundle. as identification is
not necessary in many stores unless the
amount of purchase exceeds SO.
A half-hour sees them either in the
pawnshop or she returns to state that
81, IN. ~
check, which is as good As money, as she
represents that she desires to get other
articles in the same store, the check
being legal-tender and facilitating the ex-
change. She perhaps buys a spool of cot
ton, thus getting actual money in her
possession, and walks out several dollars
to the good. 1t is a dangerous game, and
it cannot be worked more than once in a
store by the same woman unless she goes
in for Disgusting herself, as the detectives
employed by large firms are very quick
TO catch on to all the ingenious devices of
these adVenturesses, who, if thew only
would but eXpend one-quarter Of their
mental activity in legitimate enterprises,
would be sure of never-tailing source of
income, minus all the risk.
Still another type of confidence woman
one who would angrily reseut being
called by such name-is the Tightly in
dividual who thinks it great fun to
'work' some man. She may be young.
she may be old, the younger, however,
having a better chance of success than
the latter, as youth and good looks are
prime factors in the little game. They
work" valuable presents from one man,
letting him think they will marry him.
while they try the same dodge on an
other at the same time. Sometimes they
are found out in their little games, in
which case they lose all they have Sc
cured but as rule they take good care
to cover up their peccadilloes and lay in
good store of jewelry by the ennobling
and refining process known as working
their admirers for all they are worth. -
Philadelphia Times.
Sandpaper will whiten ivory knife
L. h., IL.