Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-10-14
WATERBURY EVENING DEMOCRAT. SATURDAY.

question from me as to the direction in which they were going next he sa'd that they had plans all laid for a job up in Wisconsin.
 What are you fellows working now?" I asked.
 '"The gold brick" he replied.
 Charlie has been working the gold brick game long time, hasn't he?"
 "Yes; and he is one of the finest in the country. No doubt he has turned the trick for bigger money than any other gold-brick man in the world"
 A few moments later I invited Charlie" into my private office, and surprising him with my knowledge of his business, got him to tell me the story of his life, from the time he had left college.
 He and his gang, of which he was considered the head, never played for small stakes; $7000 being the maxi mum, and $5,000 the minimum. They had three plans of putting up the job" one of which he explained in de- tail, as being very successful.
 Their first step was to locate their victim, and this required skillful work on the part of the advance man. When a substantial farmer, with plenty of property and a good bank account, had been selected, the High Mark" as the head man was called, would visit the locality. Calling upon the farmer, or "Rummy" as he was known to the gang he would explain that he was a business man from Massachusetts and was looking around with a possi- ble view to buying small farm, upon which to spend his remaining days.
 They had turned their last trick in southern Ohio, working it as follows:
 Charlie" as High Mark" called upon the farmer, who had been care fully selected by the advance man. After giving the above explanation to account for his visit he inquired whether there was any kind of good hunting in that section. When in formed that there was excellent sQuir- rel hunting and that the season was then open, he became enthusiastic and asked the farmer if he ever hunted.
 The reply was that he scarcely ever did, principally for the reason that he had poor gun.
 "Now, see here," said the grafter, q have at my hotel several fine guns and plenty of ammunition, and I want to have little fun. If you will give me board for a week or two, I'll bring out my guns and will pay you $20 or $25 a week with the understanding that you are to give up your personal time to go out with me. What do you say?"
 To this the farmer agreed. The lol- lowing day the grafter returned, bag and baggage.
 The first day they went to the woods to erect a blind under which to hide. while waiting for squirrels. After the blind was finished the grafter hinted that he had a bottle of good stuff" in his pocket, and producing a quar:. bottle of choice wine and whisky mixed, took a drink and passed it to the farmer, who also took a social smile. Then, to make the blind more attractive, he hid the bottle under a log, remarking that it would come in good play hereafter.
 Being an experienced sportsman the grafter's success in bringing down a fine mess of squirrels every morning made things doubly interesting; be-, sides a swig from the bottle created a good appetite for breakfast.
 After the High Mark" had estab- lished himself in the good graces of the farmer and his family, one of his