Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-08-08
DAILY SHORT STORY
PROF. ScHENKER BUNKOED.
TOrigtnal1

America from a German university
with a great reputation in his profess
sion. Nevertheless his pupils. who
all loved him, declared that all the
professor knew was about bugs. He
was as simple as d child. When he
went out after insects. which was
often, his wife was in dread lest he
fall into a well or get caught by the
seat Of his trousers in crossing fence
and perish before being found.
One day the professor, after many
admOnitions from Mrs. Professor
went to the city to meet a man with
whom he had an engagement The
man was apparently a farmer and
carried a carpetbag of the rag va
riety, which he exchanged with the
professor for some crisp notes. They
were both Germans, and both might
have been taken for farmers. Indeed,
after the trade, on visiting a beer sa-
loon TO refresh themselves every one
there spotted them for a couple of
''hayseeds." AS they We're about to
leave, a man stepped up TO the pro-
fessor and. Selling his hand. said:
My dear old friend, how do you
do?"
The professor did not remember
him, but the man had no difficulty in
convincing the professor just where
they had met, and the three went back
for more beer. Then the newly found
friend introduced a friend, and there
was fine party.
What v got in your grip, ole man."
asked the man who had introduced
himself. ~ seem to feel afraid of los
ing it,
Il got a dreasure in dat bag" re-
piled Schenker.
BY this time they had drunk II good
deal Of beer, and the newly found
friends proposed to show the strangers
the city in a hack.
"Y' don't want to take that bag
along. 1t wouldn't be safe. I'll leave it
for V with the proprietor Of this sa-
loon"
Through several mugs OF beer the
professor saw his treasure carried
away without the power TO protest.
Then he was hurried into the hack with
the man with whom he had made the
trade, and the driver was told TO show
them the city Had they imbibed less
beer they might have thought it strange
that neither of their entertainers ac-
companicd them.
In Il short time the professor. not
having continued his rotations. began
To be fearful for the safety of his treas
urc and ordered the hickman TO drive
back to the saloon.
When the two men drove UP to the
door, seeing crowd about il. with sew
eral policemen struggling 10 break
through and go inside. the professor
wrUng his hands and mOaned:
"Mein dreasure! Mein dreasure: Dere
hat been fire. and all is burned up
Leaping from the hack. he clbowed
his way into the saloon. All was com
motion. From private room came
bowls. and from the crowd. some OF
whom We're standing OH the tables,
came cries of Murder" and "Policew
Suddenly the door of the private room
opened, and the two men who had in
tCrested themselves in the professors
carpCtsaCk rushed wildly out swing
ing their arms in a vain attempt TO
| fight off a swarm of bees that clustered
about their heads. Their panic was
communicated to the others, and there
WIS Il uiuu luSH lOT lllt uOOE-
When the saloon was cleared, there
remained the proprietor. the two bee
stung men, the professor and police
man. The farmer who had sold the
bees came in and, taking in the situa-
tiOn hived them. Then came the eX-
PLANTATION. 1t did not require many
questions to convince the policeman
that II was a confidence game. in
which the misplaced confidence was
with the swindlers. He marched them
off to the station, taking the professor
along for his testimony, a crowd of
gamins following, shouting and jeer-
ing the prisoners at the condition Of
| their swollen heads.
When Professor Schenker returned
home that evening he was met by his
wife, who had seriously considered
sending out a lost child" alarm.
Throwing up her hands, she exclaimed,
My dear, where hare you BEEN"
Then the professor told how he had
heard of rare variety of bees, how
he had bargained for them by CORE
spondence and taken them from their
owner TO bring home, rounding out
the story with an account OF the at
tempted capture or money and the
reaping of Il harvest OF hornets
The story was published in an even
| ing paper and was soon in possession
OF the college. The same evening
crowd OF students came to the pro-
| fessor's house. called him out and one
Of their number addressed him:
We tender you and the land of
your adoption congratula tons on the
| noble manner in which you have
steered bunko steerers into the open
arms OF the law, where they will re-
ceive their deserts and be a warning
TO the rest OF their craft that IL they
| try TO bunko any one connected with
| our college they Will find Jordan a
hard road to travel"
The professor blushcd and tried to
stammer reply, but when 1t was ap-