Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-05

E1NNlhAhAANn " NhAo 2 ~ ~
dred thousand dollars. which win be paid
over when the legal formalities are com
piled with. M ubiquitous reporters in
terview the fortunate nephew OF his
uncle" and the stereotyped question OF
what use he intends putting his suddenly
acquired wealth to opens the way for the
accomplished fakir to make himself solid
with his old creditors and paves the way
TO place new ones on his list. In grandilo-
uuent manner and uttersnce the heir at law
outlines his future thusly:
He will pay OF a few old debts and some
new ones recently contracted. Never hav-
| ing had a vacation in his life, he will spend
a year abroad, having always had a desire
to visit the old world. He will return at
the expiration OF this period and engage in
some business. The suckers" read this
free ad. and they overwhelm him with cour-
tesies and offers Of a more substantial char
acter. All Of which he gracefully accepts.
'Nhe soft-headed Of both sexes are at his
feet, so to speak, the male with invitations
to spreads, luncheons and liquid refresh
ments-the female with her most fascinat-
ing smiles and coin of the realm. which he
gently borrows until the draft arrives from
Timbuctoo.
Awakening Comes AZ Last.
Weeks and even months roll by with no
other change than perhaps a slight diminu-
tion in the list Of suckers" The hot air
artist, with his Prince Albert frock fitted
to his shapely person, creased trousers, i'm
maculate linen, a ~jsuntily pitched Fedora
hat, shining footwear. a smart cane and a
pleasant smile, perambulates the avenue
and "refreshes" only at the high-toned bars
from the Peace monument to the treasury.
When the bubble bursts and the inheritance
is not forthcoming creditors are blandly in
formed that the lawyers have "butted" in
and made trouble. but that the courts will.
in due time, straighten out the tangle, and
the money will be paid over. The wise
ones get next" and hedge on their hos
p~itality and credit. The last to be unde-
ceived is perhaps the speculative female,
who had designs she was adroitly led to be-
lieve by the heir at law would be realized
In the near future.
Quite recently a splendid ICON" game OF
this character was successfully worked by
a past master at the business. Those who
were on the inside and knew the character
Of the hot air artist in question and others
who knew his family and antecedents es-
capped, of course, being victimized. Blu
there were numbers who swallowed tho
bait and acquired the privilege Of gnashinl
their teeth as the tall, handsome ant
courtly looking heir of his uncle" passes
up the avenue with an unconscious look o.
confidence on his chiseled features. He will
bow and smile to passing victims and ever
politely ask for a match to light HE cigar
cite. He never carries matches to dislgur'
the corset-like At Of the smooth silk YES
nodded TO his manly form, and the cigar
cite is a free will gift from a friend WIFI
has compromised a touch with the one
Of q smoke. His "uncles," for he has many
eye him as he passes and speculate on tn,
quality and character of the next pledge
Of his affections.
Not exactly "in maiden meditation fame.
free" but in the more practical specula
tive composure Of a brain evolving som
new scheme to land the unsophisticated
his outward gentlemanly type Of the hot
air brotherhood Of the Capital City enjoy
his evening constitutional; the day havinI
been thus we'll spent, 1t will be followed b.
a night OF serene repose.
There is as broad a difference and a
marked a distinction between the genu
hot-air professional and the dead beat a
there is between the common street beg
gar who ~solicits aims and the unfortunat
who peddles shoe laces and lead pencils
1t is, perhaps, true that the man who work
the windfall or sudden inheritance racke
is subject to the beat classification, but h
is only an inhnitesimal element in the nu
) merous colony OF the hot-air fraternity
' Besides. the redeeming affinity OF suave as
|, surance which he utilities in projecting an
|, inventing schemes entities him to the con
3 sideration Of thoughtful writers and an un
prejudiced public.
He is often, too, an individual who hs
drifted into the seamy side Of life becaus
Of an enthusiasm in politics which an TN
appreciative constituency rebuked. HI
. drifting commenced as lobbyist and Nigh
s guide for the corps of new members tn
= patriotic masses biennially send to Wash
Ington, and when his usefulness becam
= impaired along these lines because Of tn
s~trenuousness with which he did things b
fell back upon his native genius for reserve
d and discriminating rascality. Therefor
= after a broad-minded consideration OF a
= the facts and circumstances the classihct
ton OF hot-air fellowship is unreservedl
: accorded this most unattractive and IRE
deemable type of confidence man.