The record-union., 1893-03-20

Then Lloyd called in number of
agents, whom he provided with blank
books, and sent them out to work the
city. II is not supposed the canvassers
were let into the secret of his plot; they
were simply to get all the orders possible
and collect twenty-five cents on each as
their commission.
THE INTENDED VICTIMS
Were to call at the.photographcr's rooms,
sit for their pictures, order the desired
number, and leave deposits thereon.
The agents were provided with choice
specimens of the style of pictures that
were to be supplied at the rate of 81 90
person ought to know could not be pro-
duced at less than $40.
Of course the orders rolled in-they
came as steadily and continuously as the
waves that follow one another upon the
seashore. The agents were coming money,
too, for 1.-THE goods" spoke for them
selves. It was 10 trouble for energetic
canvassers to procure fifty orders each
day, and their commissions often
amounted to from $40 to SIS day-all
paid in advance by the customers.
LLoYD's GALLERY
Soon became crowded with applicants for
pictures. From early morning till late
in the afternoon men, women and chill
dren. dressed in their best suit of clothes,
place. 1t would have required a dozen
operators to have waited on them, but
they did not seem to think of that, and
marveled not when Lloyd and his ap-
prentice seemed to get along with the
herculean job swimmingly.
The truth is that when there was an
unusually big rush of customers the pho
tographers simply went through the mo-
ton of taking a snapshot at the sitterS.
Business was too rushing to develop and
exhibit negatives, and all the customers
had to do was to deposit each about one
half the price of the pictures ordered, the
remainder to be paid when they were
finished.
Some, however, paid more than one
half down, and as the opportunity was
such a rare one to get fine pictures for
almost nothing, many persons ordered
several dozen.
Thus things went on for several weeks.
Orders and money rolled in upon the en-
terprising photographers in such volume
that customers who became impatient for
their pictures had to be put off.
DECIDED TO SKIP.
In the meantime, it would seem, LLOYD
was preparing for a grand coup d'etdt.
Customers were told to call on Saturday,
the 18th, and they would receive some or
all of their pictures, as they could not be
completed before that time.
And on Saturday they came, but where,
oh where, was LLOYD? On the preceding
day young man who had been assisting
him in the operating room received letter
from Lloyd announcing that he was about
to depart for a healthier place-supposed
to be San Jose. The letter contained the
kew to the safe, where Lloyd said would
be found $40 to pay the young man what
was coming to him on salary account,
and Sl4 to pay two other employees. 1t also
contained a reference TO his young wife,
T14
her.
,The money was found in the safe, as
stated, and the employees all received
what was due them.
When the holders of receipts began to
flock to the gallery on Saturday they
found the door locked and themselves
confronted with the following notice
pasted thereon:
"GALLERY CLOSED,
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE"
This is supposed to have been all that
the original notice contained, but a few
hours later these additions had been made
to it:
"Gone, but not forgottenW
''Suckers do bite"
t'Skipped the country "
A RECoRD-U UNION reporter ispent sew
eral hours about the hallway and inter-
viewed many of the victims that called
for their photographs. one mans order
was found to be numbered 1854, but 1t is
believed that his is by no means the
highest, and that close upon four thou
sand orders must have been received.
SPECIMEN DUPEs.
Milton Brady lowered about the STAIR
vay. as if IN the hope of getting punch
nt iloyd, HE got into. our family to
the extent of 81 50,' said Brady. Three
of us ordered pictures and paid the full
sum down."