The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-01-30
"TOP AND BOTTOM"

long 10 une ldCter CLASS, ana my cur1OSl-
ty often gets the better of me.
My friend Wilson, who is a member
of the secret service or the police force,
the night before had been relating to
me some rather interesting reminis-
cences of his experience with a certain
element of society known to US as
confidence men," and he was inconsid-
crate enough to arouse my curiosity.
''Curio," he said (that is my nick
rame among the boys), your desire to
Investigate all phases of humanity may
lead you into trouble one of these days,
but if you have mind to try the expert
ment and will follow my instructions
think | can provide you with enough
amusement tomorrow to last you for
several weeks"
l couldn't stand the pressure and
jumped at the chance.
You have all the natural require
ments," said Wilson. you look very
green and unsophisticated, and you
will at once become an object of inter-
est to the confidence 'steerer.' The part
you will play is a simple one. All you
have got to do is to make the oppor-
tunity and the 'steerer' will do the rest.
Remember one thing--under 10 cir
cumstances bet or loan none to any
one you chance to meet"
Then Wilson gave me my lesson. A
suitable wardrobe was arranged for me
80 impersonate green country youth,
and bright and early the next morning
/ alighted from train at the North
western depot. l was looking for a con-
fidence man, and though Wilson assured
me l would not meet with any serious
injury or serious trouble so long as l
kept my eyes open, still 1 must confess
l felt certain sense of nervous uncer-
tainty which in a timid man might be
attributed to fear.
My instructions were limited. When
[ reached the depot in the garb of a
country youth, all that was required
was to conduct myself as a stranger
naturally would; stand around the
Naiting-room for few moments, and
If no one approached me to go to the
street and gaze up and down as if I'M
certain which way to proceed.
l first waited in the depot until the
passengers had all left, but as no one
approached me | decided to try the
street. Here l met with no danger sig
nails other than a lot of cab drivers, who
tried to persuade me they knew more
of my business than l did myself, and
insisted that l wanted to take a ride.
But l was looking for confidence man,
and l gave these fellows to understand
that was very positive-minded coun-
try boy.
Between Erie and Huron streets on
Wells there is small dry goods store
with rather an odd display in the win
dow, and as l came along there were
several people standing in front in
speeding the wares. AS l always want
TO see everything that anybody else
considers worth looking at l stopped
also Among the spectators was man
who looked to Inc to be a Swedish emf
grant, and as his curiosity was appar-
emily as abnormal as mine we were
both standing there when the rest had
gone.
AS l was about to move on the Swed-
lsh emigrant turned to me and in
broken English said:
"Meester, yo can tell me var Ay fnt
State street?"
1t would have been just as easy for
me to tell the truth, and there was no
apparent reason why I should do other
wise. bat it was my mission that morn
ing to appear in the light of stranger,
so l answered that | was stranger in
the city myself and could not tell him
where to find State street. There seems
to be an affinity of soul between stran-
gers in a strange land, and the Svede
warmed towards me. Ordinarily the
Swedish emigrant is not my choice of
companion, but had been disappointed
in my morning escapade, and when he
asked me which way l came from and
where l was going 1 allowed myself to
gradually drift into conversation. L
informed him l had just come in from
Dakota, where / had been working on
a farm, and was on my way to my home
in Ohio.
''Det SO? Ay ben yust from Moo
York, var Ay ben vid mae uncle six
mont since Ay come from Ole Country.
Ay go now to Meenesota to work.. 70
know Diet placer"
No, did not know much about Mime
sofa, only having passed through the
state on my way to Dakota.
The conversation drifted from one
thing to another as we walked along
Wells street, until, passing by one of
those institutions calculated to cheer
the inner man, my new acquaintance
asked me to have something warm. l
am not drinking man, but the wealth
er was cool, and decided a stimulant
would not be bad, SO l accepted his
invitation.
AS we were about to order some
thing a well-dressed. genteel-looking
man came in and spoke to us.
Going to have a drink?"
! ] answered that we were.
well, l thought I'd haveAsomething
myself. Won't you join me?"
I've can't do det," said the Swede.
"Why not?"
'Vel, dar ben two of us und yust but
Won of 20; 20 drink vid u.s."
mo. but I'll shake you the dice to see
who pays the bill"