The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-14
The Retaliation of Reuben.

Nobody can convince me-" said the
Hon. Phil Wissig OF de Ateyesterday, In
relating how ne had been swindled out of
s225. that the farmer Jays and Rubes are
not turning and getting hunk with us city
blokes, We are getting to be the real
suckers"
Mr.. wissig's recital OF the swindle
which caught him was dramatic and
vehement About a week ago man who
appeared to be a well-to-do farmer called
on him in his saloon In Grand street.
introducing himself as Constable John
Hopkins OF Pittsfeld, Mass.
II test come here 10 York" said he.
"ter see tho sights an buy seeds fer my
farm. I hev 200 acres OF ther best land
in Berkshire. i amt putin up any place
particular, Jest gon' tew different PARTS
o. teown nights / heerd you was some
thin OF politician deown here an tho't
Id come i'm ter see yer wuz I'm ther leg
islater myself years ago. Hev drink
with me everybody"
Constable Hopkins produced a roll of bills.
treated literally and made friends. He
came back on the next day, treated again,
and took Wissig and his friends, Charlie
Wagner the Grand street drygoods man,
end Louis Cells OF the Hanfield House,
10 Bowery theatre. where they occupied
q tox, and he acted the host in manner
which caused Wissig TO remark tnat he
was thoroughbred.
The stranger told some remarkable
stories about fishing and hunting ne ar his
home and Wissig. Wagner and Cells ac-
cepted invitations to visit the farm this
summer and go fishing.
why, In two hours. said the consta-
BILE you kin ketch 300 OF the finest pick
eral YOU ever saw Some of EN- weighs
at least ten pounds"
Wagner almost tainted with JOY and
insisted on being allowed to buy a bottle
of wine
IL came out the next day that Mr..
Hopkins was expecting letters from home
and had directed that they be sent 10
Wissigs saloon.
"Pve Jest bought a pair of horses" said
he, "ar' / sent hum for a draft l ex-
] pect II In a day or two. j wish you'd put
! any letters for me in the ssfe. You can't
/ be too careful In this yere city.
Certainly" said Wissig, they'll be
| safe here"
/ TO Constable John Hopkins, care of Il.
/ Wissigs' liquor shop, Grand and Forsythe
/ streets" and bearing a Pittsheld post
mark When Hopkins opened them Wag-
ner was present
! "Ah, here's the check" said Hopkins
producing from one OF the envelopes what
! seemed 10 be n check on a Pittsfield bank
| for $225 made payable to John Hopkins
| 81 got n great hoy" he continued, Jest
! look at this letter he wrote his dad, and
! he handed the letter TO Wissig. IL read
Dear Pop-I got yure letter. went
down 10 the bank and got them TO
make me out the check so that L
wouldn't have 10 spend the money.
All the folks Is well. Send them horses
along as soon you can. We need
them ploughin' Hiram Ellis called
down yesterday and said he would buy
that ten-acre piece near the pasture
! for the figure you name. We expect
you home Monday. Your loving boy,
REUBEN
| 'T wonder where could cash this here
! check" remarked Hopkins when Wissis
| had properly admired this literary effort
/ "Ach. viii cash Id righdt away" said
/ Wagner.
"Oh no" said wissig "Mr. Hopkins
/ Is I'm my place now Allow me 90 cash IT, =
J lie handed over the money and Hopkins
I after buying several rounds of drinks
/ said he had 20 go after his horses and de
/ parted, promising 10 call again the mex
4, day.
Wissig sent the check 10 his own bank
for collection. He was astounded severa
hours later when a messenger from the
4 bank informed him that there was ne
such bank in Pittsheld as the check was
drawn upon. A telegram was sent TO Pitts
field and ELECTED the response that Hop
kins was swindler and Wissig was mo-
his only victim
"Ach. Vlsslg." said Wagner 10 the Hon
/ Phil when he heard this. how couldt yol
be such sugger? You vas a regular
farmer yourself"
"why you wanted to cash that checs
yourself." replied Wissig, Indignantly
| Zach. dot vas only choke" answered
| Wagner.-New York Sun.