The San Francisco call., 1899-09-16
CHEAP BUNKO
MAN FROM THE
LAND OF GOLD
Made a Big Play for a
Little Gain.
NEW KIND OF GOLD BRICK
TEACHER FOR CIRCLE CITY WHO
MUST NOT WED.
Offered $500 Per Month for Instruc-
tor-Told Of ALI Kinds of Money
and Borrowed Seventy
Five Cents.
NEW KIND OF GOLD BRICK
TEACHER FOR CIRCLE CITY WHO
MUST NOT WED.

A. H. Macdonald, principal OF the Lin
coin Evening School, as we'll as his very
efficient staff of teachers, is anxious to
know the whereabouts Of one Strauss
from Alaska, a self-reputed millionaire.
Strauss went to Macdonald recently to
secure his advice and assistance in pro-
curing a teacher for Circle City, in the
far north, at modest salary of $500 per
month, with all expenses paid. The man
from the Klondike was willing to abide
by the instructors selection, demanding
one concession from the teacher Mac
Donald might choose.
The young woman who was to train the
budding minds in the new land of gold
was to sign a contract to the effect that
she would teach school for one year and
during that time would consider no pro-
posals Of marriage. The day after Strauss
enlisted the principals interest in the ed
ucational affairs of Circle City he called
upon Mr.. Macdonald in the Southern Pa
cific building. This time he sought the
instructors advice as to the safe-keeping
of the vast wealth he had amasSed in
Alaska, incidentally borrowed 81 and then
disappeared with never q backward
thought to the poor Alaskan children so
anxiously awaiting teacher
In the annals of bunko life and gold
brick transactions Mr.. Strauss has made
an innovation. He has introduced new
game. 1t partakes of the nature of q
sure thing and possesses but one draw
back-a small gain as the result of elab-
crate detail. The amusing part Of
Strauss game is the fact that the vic
tim ignores the fact that he has been
played"
Il can't understand it, says the vete-
ran teacher, losing sight of the petty re-
suit in wonderment at the magnihcence
of the scheme. = 1T was this way. Sew
eral nights ago l was seated in my Office
at the Lincoln Evening School when
stranger walked into my room and with
out any explanatory phrasing demanded
that | assist him in selecting teacher
for Circle City. a.
We want a teacherSbad up there he
said. The boys have got together and
determined that whatever the cost we
should have one, and they have deputed
me to see that they get the proper per-
son..
Il then asked him why he came to me-"
continued Mr.. Macdonald, "and he said
that one AL White, a graduate of my
school, had advised him to consult me in
the matter. We talked it over and came
to the conclusion that the salary should
be $500 per month, with all expenses paid.
and that | should let him meet after
place the matter before them. There is
but one thing insist upon he said: the
lady selected must be a young woman of
determined character; one that cannot
duty, and furthermore, she must sign
contract to teach for one year, during
which time She must not marry
My teachers met Mr.. Strauss that
same evening" remarked the principal.
Two ladies seemed rather inclined to ac-
cept his offer. To one he said she was
too young and that the Klondikers would
never let her live year in single blessed
ness, and the other he declared was too
frail. Finally he said he would leave the
matter to me and would call in a few
days. He came the next day to see me
at the treasurer's office of the Southern
Pacific Company and said he wanted my
advice as to how he might place his
money. I've heard good reports from
the Hibernia Bank he said, but they
will accept no greater deposit than $40 900
and that never would do me- So,'' ex-
planned Mr.. Macdonald, Il recommended
a big commercial bank and we arranged
to go there on Monday. Then he told me
that he had just telegraphed a ticket to
his parents in Germany to bring them to
this coast and was much annoyed to
think he was just rs cents short. He
asked me If l could oblige him and save
him the trouble of going home and I
gave him dollar And that" concluded
Mr. Macdonald, '"is the last I saw of
Mr. Strauss, millionaire of Circle City"
1t is thought that Strauss" sought the
advice of other trusting gentlefolks, and
among the number is mentioned Captain
DENLY, who has two sons wooing fortune
in Alaska.