Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-10-11
WAS HE HYPNOTKED7
Continued from First Page)

Mr.. Kepler chided him for carrying
so much money with him, but the
sti anger replied that ordinarily there
was no danger.
How did they fleece your inquired
the man who was in the buggy with
Mr.. Kepler.
II have some cards with me, and l
can easily show you,' replied the other.
Three cards were then pro-
duced, and betting began be-
tween the two strangers, with Mr..
Kepler's companion the winner every
time. The amounts were small, but
the other stranger affecting disgust
became reckless, and offered to bet
5000 that he could name the right
card.
I'll go you," replied the other, al
the same time marking card unno.
ticed by stranger No. 2, but clearly
observed by Mr.. Kepler, who was al.
so invited to enter the game.
II have no money with me-" replied
Mr.. Kepler, whereupon his companion
said: "Fll stand for you" and unob'
served by the other, he whispered to
Mr.. Kepler, "You saw me mark the
card; you don't need any money, and,
besides, III divide with you"
This was satisfactory. and soon al.
legged bills amounting to $4,000 were
placed in a small grip taken from a
large valise in the buggy of stranger
No. 9. The first stranger had agreed
to stand for Mr.. Kcplcr in case he
lost. But Mr.. Keplcr did not lose
in the sham game. His supposed $4,000
was left in the small satchel, but
stranger No. 2 lifted his voice In a
strenuous wail-"what right had Mr.
Iiepler to the money when he put none
in-was he the prince Of sharks?"
Il could have put the money in II
| had cared to-" answered Mr.. Kepler,
who was we'll satisfied with his $4,000
winnings. "You must show me- de-.
manded the incredulous one, and Mr..
Kepler agreed to go to the bank and
draw the money as proof that he was
acting in good faith. He was accom-.
panied by stranger No. 1, and the
earnings"
As soon as the money was drawn
from the bank the two returned to the
disconsolate stranger waiting at the
crossroads"
| Stranger No. put all the money to-
gether-the $4,000 won from the
Vifginian and Mr.. Kepler's $1,000, and
it was shown to No. 2. He said he
guessed it was all right, and the small
satchel was placed in larger one.
Mr.. Kepler protestsd against that and
stranger No. / reached in the valise
and drew forth small grip which he
handed to Mr.. Kepler. 1t was sup
posed to contain the $4,000 including
the real $1,000 drawn from the bank
by Mr.. Kepler. This done, the stran
gers jumped into their buggles and
drove away without ceremony. But
they had given Mr.. Kepler II grip from
the valise which had contained two
which, when he opened 1t, was found
to contain only green paper.
For half an hour the swindled mar
stood IL n road dazed and unable tS
move, When the situation became
clear to him he fastened home, ther
to Akron aud told his story to Chiel
Of Police Durkin.
Mr. and Mrs Stedman do not believe
that If Mr.. Kepler had had his usua
command of his faculties that he coult
have been drawn Into such n game
under any consideration. They poln
to the fact that he had always pridet
himself in his ability to take care o.
himself and his money, and they sa,
that he had had experience with sev
cral previous attempts to swindl
him, yet withstood the wiles of tn
sharks without even becoming inter
ested In their games.
swindle Solomon Kepler in exactly tn
same manner, and had frequently com
mented upon IT.. AT any rate, the
conclude that all viii agree that h
would not ordinarily have draw
5000 merely to show strangers tina
he had IT,
1t is said that the two stranger
have been in the vicinity of Barbertol
for nearly two weeks. They seem +
have made their headquarters a
Clinton, but drove to Barberton FIRE
quently. 1t was from Liveryman Il
b, Camron, of Clinton, they obtaine,
the rigs used Thursday morning The,
represented themselves as agents 70
n nursery, and also hired two rig
Wednesday morning. 1t is now be