Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-23
SCHEME DIDN'T WORK
Sympathetic Dodge to Catch UnsOphisticated
Failed in Operation,
ADJUNCTS TO DOWNTOWN PAwNsHops
Woman who Had ostensibiy rawncd
watch to secure Food saved
Farmer from Rcing D~cfraudcd
by II Display of Jewels

The red flag which emblazonel forth the
word Auction was not necessary to con
vince the pedestrians who passed in front
of the building that a hawker Of jewelry.
musical instruments and other articles
found in a pawnshop held forth within, for
the unmusical cadence of his voice, sound
ing like the rasping Of an old saw, was in
itself an unfailing advertisement of the
character of the place.
Going at three and a half-a half-three
and a half" bawled forth the auctioneer.
Step right in. gentlemen, and investigate
for yourselves. A great sacrifice. Look at
this watch, fifteen jewels, fine Walgin
movement and my written guaranty that
the case will be bright and glossy for your
grandchildren But three and a half, the
price bid by one of the "gratters" of the
place, was all the offer that was made.
The auctioneer looked at the crowd. II was
small in numbers, and the majority of those
in the place were boosters whose duty It
was to stimulate the bidding by proposing
an increased offer whenever a likely sub
ject was captured in the. drag-net. The
auctioneer was overwhelmed with disgust
that the %loungers in the place failed to bite
at the tempting bait, so he invited them in
no uncertain language to move on and make
room for the crowd which he fondly an
llClpdleu WOulu soon lnTOnS the place.
From the outside the monotonous harangue
was heard to continue without seeming
WEAKNESS on the part of the "speiler." a
quartet of men moved along the street APP
preaching the auction place. A booster" in
front caught sight of them. The music-boS
within the place was set in operation; the
auctioneer continued his loud bawling with
renewed vigor. These efforts had the de-
sired effect. The party of men had halted
in front of the room, listened to the music,
heard the tempting words of the auctioneer
as he prated on the same watch for which
he had been bid "three-and-a-half,' and 1t
had, according to his ardent ranting, the
same fine, "ifteen-jeweled Walgin move
ment.' The men, who had become inter-
ested, entered the place. Their garb be-
tokened that they were well-to-do farmers
who had come to the city to see all that was
a-going. They seemed likely victims.
Another booster" appeared from some
where, and the bidding ON the watch became
exciting. Two persons in the room seemed
to consider that it was a likely bargain and
one of the farmers proceeded to investigate
IL. The look upon his fact indicated that he
was pleased with it, and gave rise to the
belief that through his mind was courslng
the thought that he would give the old
Waterbury which reposed in his waistcoat
pocket to his oldest boy and return home
sporting a real, genuine gold timepiece.
Then did the auctioneer redouble his
efforts. A woman who had been standing in
the background, and who. strange as 1t
may seem, had been seen in the store by
observing passersby ever since it had been
opened, stepped to the front. This was the
cue for the auctioneer to take a new tack.
"Boyc," he bawfed in his fog-horn style
- $1,000 sT 49,. ~ 81 o.
teen-jeweled Walgin movement, gold-case
with my guaranty that it will last twenty
years. It's worth $50 and you can't buy one
like it at any jewelry store for a cent less.
This lady here used to own it. She's
just lost her husband a few months back,
killed in a railroad wreck. She's got a passed.
OF little kids, and nothing to feed 'em on.
Brought this watch here to be sold, SOS
she can buy food for 'em. Bid up, now,
boys, and help the little lady out"
By this time the little lady" was play