Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-09-14

uduu luS lcdol 6ubplClOu VI him." said the landlord, until he called for his case of diamonds, when IL suddenly dawned upon me that this was the very man you had told me about"
 AS on the previous occasions, the grafter counted out the money, wrote his name on the envelope, and said:
 Landlord, just place this in the safe, will you?"
 Instead of doing so, the landlord said: You claim there is thousand dollars here, do you?"
 You saw me count it" replied the grafter
 So I did" answered the landlord, "but I didn't count it myself, so I'll just open it up and count it."
 So saying, he cut open the envelope with his knife, but with a single bound the young man bolted through the door.
 The last seen of him he was cutting down the railroad like a racehorse, minus baggage, but with his cash and diamonds intact
 On trip from Cleveland to Chicago a few years ago the porter of the sleeping car undertook to play me for little graft" which was both unique and amusing in it's manipulation.
 When nearing Chicago in the morn ing he came to my section brushed my overcoat carefully, and gave the clothes was wearing a slight brush ing. When he had finished, handed him the only 50-cent piece had.
 The instant did so observed that he half turned his back to me as he stepped nearer the window and began carefully scrutinizing the silver piece, and that very instant it flashed through my mind that the colored gentleman was planning to graft me
 After taking a careful look at the money, and having had just about time enough to shift the coin I gave him for any old thing he might have about him, he said:
 Say, mistah! guess you done gone and made a mistake and gin me sil- yer piece with plug in it, besides, it's very badly won and batte'ed, too"
 'Is that so?" I answered (knowing very well that had given him an al- most new silver piece). Let's see,'' said I, and, as he handed it to me, Cant you use it?"
 "No, sah;" he quickly answered, "l don't want that kind of money"
 Do you want me to keep it?" l asked.
 "Yes; I'd rather you would keep it. sah."
 Every we'll" said I, q can use it" and dropped it into my pocket.
 He stood there anxiously watching and waiting for me to give him an other 50-cent piece, and at last dis covering that I apparently had no in- tention of replacing it, he said:
 ''Is you all gwine to give me nothah half dollar mistah?"
 Certainly not" I answered "Is there any reason why I should give you new half dollar, just because you were foolish enough to give me an old one? Why. of course not. You said that you could not use it, and think can"
 Well then---well then"-he stafnl mered2"f reckon I'll take 1t back. W
 well" replied, q reckon you won't take it back. There is no Indian about me; when I give thing away or receive thing from anyone, never give back, nor take back"
 But" said he, you took back the b0 cents you gave me"
 Indeed, I did not" I answered "The one I gave you you have in your pocket, and the one you gave me is a different one entirely. At any rate" went on, "I think I shall turn in this plugged 30 cent piece to the sleeping car company when I report this little episode to them"
 The poor darkey became excited and turned almost white and was so beside himself with his apologies and excuses that he forgot every other passenger on the car.
 As I was leaving the car, on our ar rival in Chicago, he brushed up against me, and stammered: "Sa-sa-say mis- tah please don't say nofn' bout dis yer 'greement tween you and me. fer I got a wife and fou' little chjlluns to sport, and I cain't ford to lose ma job
 On returning home l told this little experience to my employees in the of flee. Our eolored porter rolled his chalky eyes about and, with a broad grin, said:
 "Mistah Johnston. you got that fei- lah all right. suah nun; nevah heard bout de plugged silver piece racket befoh. but fellah what used to room with tor me bout a mighty good hold up scheme he used to wo'k. almos' like dat. when he was Pullman po'tah-
 "weIl. Gene. I said, go ahead and explain it to us.
 He did SO. and the graft was this.
 The porter had a die struck. exactly the size of 5o-cent piece. upon which he had stamped John Miller, Denver, Col"
 He always had one of these in the palm of his hand. while brushing a passengers clothes. The tip, at the end of a nights journey. is seldom less than a 5O-cent piece, and whenever one was given him he would instantly palm 1t in his right and. quickly stenninr near he window. d if to Eei