Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-01-10
BJNk0ING IN FRANCE. PARl5lANs ARE LIVING UP TO THEIR
 REPUTATION IN THIS RESPECT.

Two or tbree recent events have fully justified the reputation of the French for pre-emirent smartness in swindling. A wealthy Parisian returned to his apartments in the Ruo Ballu the other day after week absence with his family aud found that all his plate and many articles of vertu, worth many thousand francs, had disappeared The concierge who had been left in charge all honest fellow, could not account for the robbery. He was sure nobody could have entered the rooms without his knowledge. No one had been there ex- cept some men from furniture ware house. They eamo the day after his master went away, bringing very large wardrobe which they said had been ordered the day before. The con eiergo thought it strange his employer had not spoken of the matter, but he al- lowed the four men to carry the piece of furniture up stairs. They did it un- der his supervision, but with great diff culty, for it seemed to be very heavy The next day they returned, this time with small sideboard in their wagon. They made many apologies for their mistake. 1t had been q sideboard, not a wardrobe, which had been ordered, and they wished to make the exchange. The unsuspecting concierge permitted them to do so, and again superintended the operation to make sure that the men did not damage or steal anything But the wardrobe had been like the wooden horse of Troy. It had contained not many warriors, but clever thief, who had spent the night packing the big closet full of tho most valuable articles he could lay his hands on and himself
 A well to do Parisian was returning last Monday by train from Havre. Dur ing the first hour of the journey bis only fellow passenger in tho compart- ment was pleasant spoken young man, who made himself very agreeable. Then others got in, and talk was general for little. Finally conversation Tagged, and the Parisian dropped asleep. Pres entity the young man began to chuckle. and, turning to the other passengers, with a wink toward the sleeping man, said in an undertone, "I'll play a good joke on my unele,' and ho carefully unfastened the strap by which small travelling bag was slung over the shoulder of the sleeper. "I'll change into the next compartment at the first stop and my uncle will wake mp and think h6 l has been robbed. It will be fun to see 1 his face, and l can watch through the l little glass in the partition. Don t give l it away.
 The others grinned appreciatively, and tho young man presently slipped out with the bag. Soon after the owner of the bag woke up. He looked abont for q mcment, then missed the pouch from the strap and jumped up in great excitement. exelaimjng:
 I've been 1obbed3'
 The response Of his fellow passengers VT q roar of laughter. This added an- ger to tho victim excitement, and he stormed frYionsly. Finally, when they could laugh MO more and the situation was becoming serious, ore of the bas- sengers begged the angry man to calm l himself. His bag was all right his i nephew bad it in the next compartment, and he would get it at the next station.
 My nephewls shouted the bewilaer- cd man. T haven't any nephew [ never had nephew. l don't know any thing about any nephew "
 Then it was the turn of the other passengers to be dumfounded and crest fallen. But the thief got away, and there were several thousand francs ill bank notes in tho bag.
 Tho proprietor of q fine Paris restau- rant of certain class was the victim Of q third swindle, though if was more a l joke than fraud. A party of four l young bloods dined one evening, not wisely but too well and too expensively at his establishments After q magnifl- cent repast in 2 private room there was dispute about who should pay, and the proprietor was sent for Each of the diners declared that he was there as the guest of the ether three The dispute went on in q jocose fashion until the restaurant keeper threatened to call the police unless his money was fortheon- ing. The four yoRng men were annoyed at this suggestion
 Is that the way you trent gentle men. e2Gla1MeG CHe or the parry. Now, see here. Since we are out for q lark l propose that 1o blindfold you, Mr. Proprietor, and the one of us whom you catch first will pay for the supper and for two nIore bottles of champagne :"
 The restaurant keeper agreed. He was securely blindfolded. and he groped about the apartment in vain for quar- ter of an hour. Then he pulled off the bandage, to find that the four revelers had fled Cor. New York Sun.
 Kentuckys Fat Boy.
 ] Caney's Fork. Ky, comes to the front with 2 fat boy that lays Fred Dur