Milford chronicle., 1893-05-05
FINps TnINes EoR a LvlNa.
a New Yorker who Closely watches q
Lost and Foundn Column.

a New Yorker who Closely Watches the
Lost and Found" Column.
The professional finder IS q feature OF
New York city not found elsewhere. The
most successful man following this profes-
sionisa well known but silent figure around
the cafes and hotel corridors of the Nine
tenth precinct. He IS well dressed, tall
and rather distinguished looking. He is
known as Daniel Bedell, but whether that
Is his real name or not nobody knows but
himself This finder has the eyes Of q
hawk, and as he walks along the the ave
nues he scans every inch Of sidewalk, in
Guiding the gutter, the latter being a rich
place for ends. But he does not ply his
trade by chance, and anything he finds
in his unprofessional strolls he looks upon
as the results Of pleasure, not Of business.
He listens at tables Of the popular cafes
and picks up many an odd job in this way,
as gentlemen telling Of losses are referred
to him as the man Of all others most likely
TO find the missing article.
When introduced to the unfortunate
loser, Bedell is particular to ask every de-
tail about the loss, on which street the
loser was walking when he discovered his
misfortune, and the course he had taken
nom the time he was last cognizant OF still
having the article in his possession. After
he has obtained all tho data possible he
wishes the party farewell and goes forth to
md. II the stone or purse or whatever it
may be has not been picked up as acciden-
tally as it was lost, the professional will get
II and fine present for delivering it up to
its owner The professional finder Is an
honest man, as honesty Is his best policy |
Nobody TO see the finder at work would |
know that he was scanning the ground for /
treasure. He walks erect, but not even a 1
pin on the sidewalk from house line to
curb escapes his gaze
The finder gets his news tips principally
from the morning newspapers. He is one
Of the first to buy the papers-long before
the break Of day-and he turns only to the
Reward" and Lost and Found" columns.
The other news in the paper is nothing to
him. A president may have been elected,
an island annexed or q cabinet named-he
cares not. Whenever the article advertised
has been lost going from one point Of the
city to another, the finder starts at the first
mentioned place and travels to the tcrmi-
nus. OfteneF than would be supposed he
finds the prize and realizes enough in the
way Of reward to keep him In excellent
style for week or more. He pays atten-
tion only 20 the most valuable advertise
ments. His eye IS trained to look In the I
most likely places in which a ring would I
roll or diamond pin would drop /
Perhaps foot has trodden upon the ar =
ticle and crushed It into the color Of the
sidewalk. The merest hint of gold orstone
sufiices TO attract his attention. Broadway q
is his best promenade, and Fifth avenue Y
comes next, closely followed by Sixth ave il
nue. The park is also fruitful source Of L
income, especially the drive and on the u
walk which skirts the fashionable drive the .,
professional finder takes many summer =.
stroll not alone for pleasure, but often TO -
his profit. When there is no clew to an u
'wner, Bedell is entitled to his find, but he az
Watches the newspapers for advertised re- IN
wards, and he has advertised himself He
ays his good name is more valuable to him
han'any one pickup.-New York Journal