Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-13


lookout for a stranger who bore external
evidence of being good game. Eventually
such a one would come along. and in 80
cases out of 100 he would stop to admire
the monument. This was the cappcr's
chance. He would approach the victim
with his most sauve manner and ask II he
wouldn't kindly tell him the name Of that
monument. OF course the stranger would
say that he was unable to do So that he
was n stranger in the city himself. and
probably volunteer much more informa-
ton which the capper would store away
fer future use.
MIR Capper in exchange for this would
tell his own little story Of where he WINS
from, where he was stopping and that he
was there waiting for friend who had
procured passes for admission into the Lee
mansion on the occasion of the unwilling
OF statue which would take place that
day. Would Mr.. Stranger care to go. He
was sure the ceremonies would lie we'll
worth the trip, and the departments were
open all the time, while the unwilling of a
statue with real live president pulling
the string could not be seen every day.
The cappers arguments usually pre-
vailed, and once the victim consented to
the arrangement he became the sucker
1.-The next step was to notify man No.
2, or the stcerer, who had been intently
watching the pair from his post Of obser-
walton over by the corner of Third and
the avenue This was usually done by Mr..
Capper taking from his pocket n freshly
Numbered handkerchief ard mopping his
forehead. Upon receiving this signal Mr.
Steerer, who was n typical department.
clerk of family, neatly clothed and bust
ness from the word CO. would step out
lively and approach the capper and his
victim in the most matter OF fac: way.
His usual salutation was:
GOOD morning, Charlie. I see you are
here Had n deuce of "A time getting those
tickets. Senator Morgan had given his all
away, and / was just lucky enough to
catch Senator Sherman before he left for
the office. It's all right now. though. and
we had better hurry all the time casting
furtive and suspicious looks at the victim,
which was really a part of the play, in
tending to convey to the mind OF tho
stranger that he was an interloper.
Mr. Capper would take this opportu-
nifty to introduce the pair in a careless,
good natured manner. telling the steerer
he had invited the gentleman to accom-
pany them to the unwilling of the statue
and that be had promised to go. The sub
ject of tickets of admission would, OF
course, come up again. and after debating
the matter 1t was usually concluded by the
steerer masnanimously proposing to take
his own chances with the crowd and allow
his friends to use the two tickets he held to
secure places for themselves among the
| notables of the day.
Everything being now arranged, they
would adjourn 70 a nei2iboriDg saloon for
. drink. Hero they would permit the suck
er TO Fay for .he order for the purpose ri
| discovering the size OF his roll and also es-
| innate his capacity for mixed drinks
| Should he indicate fondness for the latter
his desires would be gratified to a large ex
| tent. though in no instance would they
permit the sucker to become really drunk
1.-The next step in the programme would
! be to beard an avenue car for Georgetown,
the steerer keeping ups Row Of conversation
suited to the intelligence Of the sucker.
| and I've no doubt but few or the victims
ever listened to more beautiful and inter.
| csting conversation than that of these two
| tunko sharps. Arrived at Thirty. second
| street. they would 90 toward the river,
where q man in a small. boat was waiting
them He belonged 70 he gang. but In q
minor way His duty consisted OF simply
taking the men over 10 tine Virginia side
to a point nearly opposite the extreme
southern gate and then wait for what was
known ms the grand rush lie did NOD
| take any perrntaec u the gsins OF tie
robbery. but instead drew n salary u Ga
Per month for his part in the snair.
| 1.-THE meeting with the bGtmsp was
Jus. - natural - I.- .:lk.cs 90 ,c, -ug
Icy worio I<ss-s S,a- t. r-.ce I'D i.<