The morning call., 1893-12-05
SMART RASCALS.
Pumping the Gaspipes
for a Dollar.
The CreduIity of City Matrons
Played Upon With Large
Financial Return.

A rather ingenious swindle has been
worked during the past couple Of weeks in
the Mission, and after working that part
of the city with fair degree of thorough
ness the operators have transferred them
selves to the more sristocratic sections oi
the Western Addition.
The two young fellows who have devised
this scheme to enrich themselves at the
expense of the public must be good
students of human nature. The average
materfamilias is ever ready to have fling
at the San Francisco Gas Light Company,
and of this kink in the brain of the ordi-
nary housekeeper these two clever rascals
have been taking advantage.
The one is a mere youth Of about 16 OF
IL years. while his elder companion is per-
haps % years of age. Both are respecta-
bl attireG. and wear under their coats the
short white jacket affected by many work
ingmen. The lad carries with him what is
presumed to be small handpump. and
altogether the couple pose very effectively
as wOrkingmeD of the better class.
Upon calling at house the elder of the
two. who is the spokesman, tells the lady
of the house that he has called to see the
gas meter. That being quite usual pro-
ceeding. both OF the men gain admittance
to the house and then something like the
following conversation ensues:
II suppose you have noticed that the gas
has not been burning we'll la tely, madam p"
Madam, with ready remembrance of
unduly heavy gas bills, proceeds to meta
phcrically jump upon the company with
both feet and comedies the soft lin peach
ment" regarding the bad gao.
''Well, let us have look anyway" and,
suiting the action 20 the word, the mock
gas inspector lights one of the jets.
'Ah!" he exclaimS almost admiringly,
that is poor light, sure enough. Just
wait few minutes and see how I'll fix
that all right"
Turning off the gas he with his COM
panIon make for the meter, and, if under
the continued surveillance of the lady OF
the house, proceeds TO remove one of the
stopcocKs Connecting 1t by tube with
the bandpump they have with them, the
elder man in most workmanlike manner
pumps away as IL dear life depended on it.
Nov, then, l guess things are all
right" he remarked, and once more IN the
kitchen or parlors. he again lights one or
two of the gas jets. If he has had the op-
portnnity afforded to slyly turn the STOP
cock connecting with the main and
thereby increase the pressure all the bet
ter for him. Failing that he runs cold
blooded bluff on the householder.
'See that now" he remarks with conf.
Dental good nature to the housewife
isn't that light great?"
Filled with the spirit of discomfort before
alluded to, the response Is always favor
able, and then Mr.. Cracker-Jack gets in bis
fiue work.
II am representing the San francisco
Gas Consumers Protective Association
and for 50 a year-S1 down and 81 in ad
vance of the next six montbs-we guaran
tee to keep your gas pipes clear"
The demand is so moderate, and witt
the spirit of antagonism in her hear
strengthened by knowing that her visitor
is not an emissary of the gas company, the
81 is willingly paid over and the TIVE
swind!ers depart.
The career of these fellows was Gu
short in the Mission by an inadvertence OF
their part. At one house they were in the
midst of their work when the master o.
the house appeared. They attempted Il
impose upon him on the assumption tha
he was an ign0ramus in all that pertains
10 gas meters.
He looked the elder of the two swindler'
in the face for moment, astonished at tn.
impertinence displayed. aud then almOs
kicked the mans pantal0ons through hi
hat. The 'horny-handed son of toil' la,
up for repairs, and is now reported as one,
more making an excellent living out of tn,
credulity of matrons in the Western Addi
tiOD.