Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-24
NEW CASE OF GRAFT
HOW MONEY WAS WORKED By A
sHREwD MAN.

There's q new graft In town, a graft so
subtle and SO gentle. so full of Christmas
cheer and substantive virtue. so impregnat-
ed with the Yuietide spirit and the milk OF
human Kindness and other things, that 1t
bids fair to be one of the most successful
little games ever worked by a modern gem
ueman Of the road. And by the time this
little expose is published the open season
Tor this particular graft win be at an end
and the gentleman. the artist In misplaced
confidence. who worked 1t for all 1t was
worth in Washington, viii be moYing swift
~ away from the capital city. and many
newly discovered phiIanthropist will be
waiting for the turkey that never came
In downtown cafe last night three buss-
ness men. friends all the year round and
chummy at the Yuletide season. were dis,
cussing the weather and other things. And
finally one of them waxing confidential.
told this little yarn.
Said he: 81 was sitting in my Office to-
day when man came in. man poorly
gaging countenance, of frank and kindly
manner Sir, he said, without further
preliminary, gratitude still springs eternal
in the human breast Look at me. Years
ago you helped me, you gave to me when
l was starving, you spoke kind words that
served to put my feet in the right path: you
are philanthropist. May / send you a
turkey?
dropping from the minor key into his own
peculiar line of vernacular, IT began to sit
up and take notice. looked my visitor
over from top to toe, but I'll be hanged If
could place him.
You probably don't remember me- said
my visitor, but / shall never forget you.
You helped me. never mind how and where.
Probably it was nothing to you. but 1t was
all In the world to me. And On,y last night
my dear wife, with tears in her eyes. men,
toned you in her prayers as our benefactor
and told me to call and see you today.
want to give you a Christmas turkey.
with a grin, II began to swell up like
poisoned pup, and in couple of minutes
had Carnegie and the other philanthrop.sts
in my class backed off the board.
- SO thought, my visitor resumed that
I would send you the incest turkey l could
find. am huckster in small way and
am doing very WELL
That's fine l said, swelling out my
chest some more; and I'm real glad that
any little effort of mine put you in the
right path. OF course, l do these little
things every now and then. but / hardly
expect to hear from them again
I want your permission to send you a
great, big turkey, said the stranger. and
know you'll let me do it. Incidentally l
have more orders for turkeys than / can
FILL and was just on my way UP to see a
money shark and borrow ten, so that can
buy additional turkeys to fill my orders.
OF course, If you want to save me the trou-
BILE and the expense by advancing ten
should appreciate IT.
MY chest expansion came down little
at that said the business man. 'but l
still felt good and tears came In my eyes
when / told the grateful stranger that
Christmas had put me out OF business and
that / was fiat broke.
But I'll send your turkey. anyhow,
my visitor remarked, with another New
foundland dog look in his eyes, as ne went
out the door.
About ten minutes later the business
man resumed. with remin scent chuckle,
II had occasion to go across the hall from
my office to see my friend I'll, and there,
sitting beside Bins desk, with his chair
pulled up to a confidential nearness, was
my turkey giving friend. OF course,
dropped in minute and tried to give Bill
the wig-wag signal to close the switch,
but he wouldn't stand it. There were tears
in Bills eyes, and he was reaching for his
pocketbook with both hands. Excuse me,
he said to me as stood in the doorway,
making frantic motions, but can't you see
I'm busy. III be with you in a minute
And then he turned to the turkey distrib-
utter. My friend he sad, your story has
moved me deeply. / haven't got but ten
dollars with me. but I'll divide with you.
Just take this note and get it changed.
Keep Ave and repay 1t when you cam
And, said the business man, with an
other chuckle. 1.-The turkey distributor
hasn't been back since"
A'I got off for five" sad business man
No. 2, with a sheepish grin.
"And / was elected for the full amount"
sad business man No. g.
Whereupon they all had drink. And il
the turkey distributor falls into their
hands his shrift will be short and his re-
pentance long.