Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-10-26
Fleeced by Sharpers.

farmer of Sandy Hook district, to the
tune of $3.50 and skipped, leaving theil
victim with two empty satchels and a
poorer yet wiser man. Mr.. Virtz die
not know he had been duped unit
too late, as is usually the case, and the
sharpers were out Of reach.
The other day while Mr.. Virtz was
on the road going from Weverton tc
Sandy Hook he met man driving
along. The stranger stopped to in
qulre Of Mr.. Virtz if he knew of a
farm in the neighborhood for sale OIL
if he, Mr.. Virtz, would sell his farm
He replied in the negative, but stated
that the Elgin farm, nearby, was for
sale. The stranger was very atfable
and asked Mr.. Virtz to drive him to
the Elgin place. He agreed and they
started off.
While driving along they met a
man driving in the opposite direction.
This was the second act. Stranger
No. 2 pulled up, as he had a tale of
woe to tell. He explained that he
was looking for lost sister, who was
thought to be in the vicinity, and that
she was one Of the heirs to a large
estate, which could not be adjusted
until she was found. This story af-
forded an opening for a conversation
in which the strangers engaged Mr..
Virtz as an earnest listener. At this
junction stranger No. 2 proposed to
stranger No, l that they play little
game. Stranger No. manifested
great indignation at the proposal, but
after some wheedling on part of stran-
ger No. 2 the other consented and the
ball opened They played for small
stakes and gradually raised them I'M
til stranger No. l raked in a 81 1000
note. Mr.. Virtz eagerly watched the
game and when he was invited TO join
in he did so without much persuasion,
The three-handed deal proceeded
for while, and Mr.. Virtz could not
believe his eyes that he had won
81 900 note, but he had, just like his
friend. The fact that these notes were
was not discussed until
later.
The fever of winning such large
stakes had seized Mr.. Virtz, and when
stranger No. 2 complained that he had
lost so heavily and would like to have
a go at the game again Mr.. Virtz and
stranger No. l consented to indulge
him. Mr.. Virtz said he had money
in the bank at Harper's Ferry, and it
was proposed to go there and finish
the game.
On arriving at Harper's Ferry Mr.,
Virtz went to the bank and drew out
$3.50, representing his hard earned
savings, and joined stranger No. l.
The strangers, or accomplices, for they
were, in the meantime had laid their
trap for Mr.. Virtz and he fell an I'M
victim into it. Stranger
No. 2 had disappeared and stranger
No. l proposed to look for him after
instructing Mr.. Virtz to go home,
where it was agreed to finish the game,
and he would follow with stranger
No. 3.
Before Mr.. Virtz left, stranger No.
l produced two satchels exactly alike
in color and size. In one of the satch-
els Mr.. Virtz'S money was placed, as
he thought, and he took both satchels
and left.
On reaching home Mr.. Virtz told
his son about meeting the two stran-
gers and his luck in winning 1000.
The son readily grasped at the idea
that his father had been done up, and
asked him to be allowed to examine
the satchels, but Mr.. Writ refused.
The idea then came that the men con-
-emplated robbing the house to get
Mr.. Virtzs $3.50, and father and son
procured shot guns and watched all
night for the expected visitors, but
they did not appear. The secret Of
Mr.. Virtz S loss came out when he
went out Of the room and the son took
advantage Of his fathers absence to
ook into the satchels. His idea that
lis father had been robbed was con-
irmed at a glance. The satchels were
empty, and thereby hangs the tale of
Mr., Virtz's creduity in strangers and
he thieving propensity Of the UT ,Itar
% prey upon innocent w. nros
The next morn 80 tSinnror ,,os
49,, y MIR. Willard of Knoxville
rockville stating that his team
was at the latter place. The sharp
err. had hired the team Of Mr., Will
lard. From Harpers Ferry, where
the sharper was joined by his accom-.
plice, they drove to Rockville, and
deserving the team, proceeded, 1t IS
thought, to Washington. Mr.. Writ
informed the local officers Of the affair
and the machinery of the law was set
working with the hope of capturing
the sharpers, but they are believed to
be out Of reach-HagerStOacn Mail.
A Great English statesman's Secret.
Tho secret of n celebrated English