The true northerner., 1895-10-11
HER UNIQUE TRADE.
A WOMAN WHO EARNS A LIVING AS
A PROFESSIONAL FINDER.
Her Field OF Work II the shopping Dis
trict of Large City-Her Method L. To
Go Along the Main street Looking For
valuables-Her Best Find.

valuables-Her Best Find.
There Is a woman I'm Philadelphia whose
business it Is 10 walk the principal streets
during shopping hours, keeping her eyes
on the pavement for lost articles
Years ago she used TO ply the trade OF
professional finder In New York and did
uncommonly WELL until competition be-
came too keen Then she moved TO Bos-
ton, where it Is said no one ever drops any
thing save an occasional "h the result
of pernicious anglomania From the Hub
she came TO Philadelphia. and here she ex-
poets TO remain until business becomes
dull.
This Is her method About IL o'clock.
by which time women from neighboring
towns have reached the city on the hunt
for bargains, Chestnut street is usually
crowded thoroughfare. Nine de Blanques
beat is between Eighth and Broad, in
varably on the south side. Her gait.
while slow, Is not sufficiently tagging TO
attract attention and her eyes are meta
phorically, searchlights. If the young
bdy in front drops her Trilby locket. OF
no intrinsic value, TO be sure though dear
from association, madame deftly picks 1t
up and-walks on. Later, woman look
ing like a local express, SO laden with
bundles OF every size and shape, hurries
along, intent only upon catching subur
ban train. She drops her pocketbook.
Empty, most likely and yet it may con-
tain check, receipt, and half dozen
minor things of Importance only to tho
owner. That, too finds its way into ma
DANES capacious pocket.
Sometimes it's bit of jewelry, now and
then gem of value Once it happened TO
ho cot of In n al
another time a bundle of letters pulsat-
ing billets they were and the owner paid
well for their return. The whole transac
tion was conducted through the personal
column of a morning paper. A newly
married couple lost not only their money,
which the bride carried, put their Camden
certificate as well, that had been crowded
into small compartment of the unfortu-
nate pocketbook.
After finding the things the lost and
found columns of the principal dailies are
carefully read, and madame corresponds
with the advertiser, or, in the event OF a
find like the bundle Of love letters, madame
advertises to the effect that such bundle
has been found, and owner may regain
same by paying expenses As TO charges,
naturally they depend altogether upon the
value of the find
"For instance" said Mime. De Blanque,
"not many months ago l found a gentle
mans wallet containing two government
bonds some newly bought railroad stock
and several 500 bills 1t belonged to a
man living up town. He always carried
large amount of money about-in fact,
was cranky on the subject of bonds.
well, answered his ad He made an
appointment, and after describing the con-
tents of the wallet, etc, handed him his
property. He thanked me profusely and
gave me 81 TO defray my expenses. he said.
That" continued my friend, was the
meanest customer | ever had
My best work financially occurred in
New York. Both parties are dead now, so
/ may have no hestancy in giving the
story for the first time, although of course
/ shall mention no names
I'm front of Brentano's / noticed a
young woman, handsomely gowned. look
about expcctantly, call a hansom and just
as she was about 10 step in drop package
Mine j. trade of opportunities. The
lady's loss was my transitory gain. A
professional finder never opens anything
on the street. When reached home that
afternoon, / inspected the package and
Judge of my disappointment to find it con
tained dozen cabinet portraits of two or
binary people, man and woman.
THE next day morning paper adver-
tised for bundle lost near Brcntano's
large reward if delivered at once TO N,
Studio building Now what could there
be in an ordinary photo of "a prosaic mar
ried couple no doubt, 10 create such anxi-
ety as | could read between the lines OF
the adS
THAT same evening another ad appear
ed in all the papers which read; One hun
dred dollars, and no questions, will be paid
for bundle lady dropped near Brcntano's
call room 46, Park Avenue hotel l wait
ed Two different people after that bun
die Sure enough. more personals ap.
pcarcd next morning and which to answer
was a question. In case of two evils 1t Is
better To have no election, 50 l chose both.
Ny answers were guarded, and gave the
postOffice address only.
lust rs anticipated, [ received two re
plies both brief One said: Bring bundle
70 my room at hotel. If it is what
expect, will pay you $3.50 cash If not,
will pay for your trouble, etc. Room as.
The other read: Bring bundle TO room 16,
Studio building. If it is what have lost,
will pay you anything reasonable.
ITO make a long story short I called
ufsb dU tne SJuulO DullulHR. lne OCCu'
pant of room 16 was the lady l had seen
drop the package. She grasped my hand
vehemently.
You have the pictures with your she
asked feverishly
Yes
And your priceS'
The other party offered me $3.50.
Then I'll double it,. And she count
cd ont sig SbO hills
The lady in the photograph had been
indiscreet. Her husband had filed peti
ton for absolute divorce" continued
Nine. de Blanque, land the Photographic
would have been used against her. She
paid well to have even the plate from the
photographer and naturally was much con
cerned when both it and the pictures were
lost The case never came to trial, for tn,
husband died suddenly and his wife fol
lowed him "A year afterward.
That" concluded the professional find
er, was my most profitable fnd. Phil
adelphia Times
The Age Of Discretion.
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