The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-01-19
Und9iDg Of a BunkO Sharp
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES;

THE boom in the bunko market
caused by the easy separation of
eN-Alderman French, of Brooklyn,
from $4,000 of his good money by two
expert youths was severely offset by
an occurrence in the Broadway Cen
trail hotel in which a pair of the broth
erhood of bunko steerers figured re-
.spectively second and third to John
KAISER, of Arizona. The pair invested
a little cash and considerable time and
trouble in Mr.. KAISER, and, though he
didn't pan out, they still have cause
for thankfulness that they are alive,
though battered.
Mr.. KAISER is superintendent of the
Live Oak Copper Mining & Smelling
company. with mines at Globe, A. T.,
and he is here with his wife on bust
ness. They are at the Broadway Cen
trail. Mr.. KAISER is of foreign eXtrac-
ton. He is possessed of a slight ac-
cent, a blandly quiet manner, con-
filling smile and general aspect of
material but nonmetropolitan pros
perity.
When he comes to New York he
doesn't follow the example of some of
his western friends and cast himself
madly into the embraces of ready
made frock coat, silk hat and new
pair of tan shoes with white laces; he
wears the same clothes that he wears
at home and goes about his business,
and if people infer therefrom that he
is from the west he makes no moan
over that. Globe he considers to be a
pretty good sort of place to come
from, and he isn't ashamed of it.
For some time past there has been
hanging about the corridor of the
broadway Central a gentleman pos
'sessed of certain. appearance of
sickness which has not commended
him to the favorable notice of the
clerks. So far as they were able to
discover, his sole occupation seemed
to be to chew toothpicks. derived from
the hotels cigar stand, and watch the
people in the lobby from the depths
of an easy chair. He was middle-aged,
plump and well dressed. The hotel
would have been glad to get rid of
him had opportunity offered. How
ever, he only came occasionally, and
his behavior was not such as would
warrant his election.
On a Tuesday morning this person
accosted Mr.. KAISER, who was stand
ing looking disconsolately out into the
rain.
bad weather we're having" said
the man. "Have much rain in your
part of the country"
''Yes. l get used to pretty much all
kinds of weather." replied Mr.. KAISER.
''Going out, I see," continued the
stranger, glancing at the others UNI
brella. Going uptown
Mr.. KAISER turned upon him a beam
ing look, but made no answer.
whats your line of business, any
way?" continued the other, persua-
.sively.
"My business" responded the west
-erner, with gentle smile, sis not
yours"
''Oh, well, you needn't be offended
just because I'm a stranger" persist
ed the other, looking somewhat hurt.
what have you got against stran-
gers, anyway"
Nothing in particular" answered
the visitor, 'but come from the west,
you know, and I've heard that New
York was full of bunko men and
swindlers."
"Oh, ho-ho! Ha-ha-ha! That's rich.'
cried the other, slapping Mr.. KAISER
on the back. "You took me for a
bunko man! Why, live right here
in the hotel. They all know me. Ha-
ha-ha! That's pretty good!"
"Pretty good" assented Mr.. KAISER,
smiling at the other as if he were his
bosom friend.
swell, if you're going uptown
81 amt" said Mr.. KAISER, and he
walked out, chuckling.
Upon his return he saw nothing of
the ELUSIVE stranger, but when be
came down into the lobby the next
morning there stood the man, well
groomed and smiling.
"Ah!" said the stranger, as Mr.. Kas-
ser approached. "Just down? I'm
just through breakfast myself. Nice
day."
To this proposition the westerner
agreed. Then his friend invited him
into the cafe to show there was no i'll
feeling, and after some conversation
they went in together, the stranger
saying:
''After what you said about the uun-
ko business you can't do less than