The Forrest City times., 1896-01-24
TOP AND BOTTOM"

There are people imbued with a cer- tain love of adventure, and there are other people abnormally curious. be- long to the latter class, and my curios- ty often gets the better of me.
 My friend Wilson, who is a member ot the secret service on 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 1ame 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 l think l 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 nents," said Wilson. You look very green and sophisticated, and you will at once become an object of inter- est to the confidence 'steerer' The part you will play is 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 no 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 to impersonate green country youth, and bright and early the next morning l alighted from a train at the North western depot. was looking for con- fdence man, and though Wilson assured me 1 would not meet with any serious injury or serious trouble so long as 1 kept my eyes open, still 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 I 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 waiting-room for few moments, and if no one approached me to go to the street and gaze up and down as if un- certain which way to proceed.
 I first waited in the depot until the passengers had all left, but as no one approached me l decided to try the street. Here 1 met with no danger sig Eals other than lot of cab drivers, who tried to persuade me they knew more of my business than I did myself, and insisted that 1 wanted to take ride. But was looking for confidence man, and I gave these fellows to understand that was a very positiveminded coun-. try boy.
 Yesterday it was rather ccol in the morning and after standing around for ten or fifteen minutes and not seelng anyone that could possibly he taken for a confidence man 1 concluded Wilson had been playing practical joke on me or else there were none of the boys out. Therefore I started to walk north on Wells street, thinking 1 would take n roundabout way to my room on Dear born avenue, get some new pointers from Wilson, and try my luck the next day.
 Between Erie and Huron streets on Wells there is small dry goods store with rather an odd display in the win dow, and as I came along there were several people standing in front in specting the wares. As I always want to see everything that anybody else considers worth looking at l stopped also. Among the spectators was man who looked to me to be a Swedish emi- grant, and as his curiosity was appar- ently as abnormal as mine we were both standing there when the rest had gone.
 As I was about to move on the Swed- ish emigrant turned to me and in broken English said.
 "Meester, yo can tell me var Ay lint State street?"