davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-10-20

dirt broadcast and then covered the
top with pieces Of sod. very carefully
pressed down.
OF course during all this perform
ance Mr.. "Grafter" and Mr.. "Rummy'
were fairly staring their eyes out and
specializing as to what the fellow
could be doing and where he came
from.
Having finished filling up the hole
the man cautiously looked around,
then hid his shovel in a clump of
bushes, and climbing the fence, started
back through the woods near enough
to the blind to enable the hunters TO
see that he was an Indian in full buck
skin suit.
When satisfied that the Indian was
safely out of the way the CRATER SUE
gested as investigation. The farmer
overlooking with curiosity, was only
too ready to look into the matter and
the two started for the spot.
Of course the first thing to do was
to procure the shovel and dig. Very
soon they came upon hard substance
wrapped in a gunny sack. Opening 1t,
what did they find but an immense
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-10-20

frequenting gambling houses, and this
brought him in contact with the sport
ing element. He lost his position, and
being without funds or influence to pro-
cure another he had recourse to gam
bling as business.
For many years I supposed, as did
many others of his old townsmen, that
he had turned out to be an all-around
sport, frequenter of race tracks, a
bettor on baseball games, pugilistic
encounters, etc. However, we were
all mistaken.
While [ was in the jewelry business
in Chicago he made frequent calls at
my store, and on different occasions
purchased a watch and Oeveral dia-
monds.
On one of his visits he was accom-
panied by a bright looking fellow with
whom l happened to have a few mo.
p1ents' conversation. In reply to- a
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-10-20

brass and placing . drop Of the acid
upon it let them see how quickly 1t be-
gan to boil and turn green. Then he
tried piece of copper and piece Of low
karat gold with the same results. Then,
picking up the chunk Of gold," he
placed the acid upon it without affecting
it in the least.
"Now," sold he, Eve have tested tbs
outside; suppose we drill into the in
side" After drilling into the metal an
inch or two he filed up the hole with
acid, which did not in the least affect it.
"Gentlemen, you needn't worry about
this, it's all right" he said.
What is the value of that chunk?"
asked the High Mark"
II can tell by putting the needles to 1t
and weighing it," said the assayer, and,
after moments figuring, ne said:
''That is worth little over $16,000."
"How much do we owe your" asked
the farmer, excitedly.
ooh, about SO cents" the accommo-
dating assayer replied. 1--WE never
charge much for information"
Thanking him for his kindness, tile
"Grafter' and "Rummy" placed the
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-10-20

pals appeared. This accomplish was a
full-blood Indian. who had been edit
Gated by the United States govern
ment. He had joined the gang In the
west and had been with them for sew
eral years. He was a shrewd, foxy
fellow, quick to detect weak point IN
the game, or to appreciate a strong
one.
On going to the blind one morning
the CRATER happened to notice, a short
distance away beyond the fence inclos-
ing the farmers property, man who
seemed to be digging q hole in the
ground. He Immediately called the
farmers attention to the stranger and
both watched the outcome with much
curiosity.
When the man had dug hole, about
three feet deep, he placed a chunk of
something in it and covered 1t up;
after which he scattered the surplus
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-10-20
o1D-woRLD ODDITIES.

A Birmingham (Eng.) man named
Bachelor has just married a young lady
named Widow.
In Paris white horses are employed
for the funerals of children or young
unmarried people. .-.
A hairdresser at Leipsic, Germany,
has built two-story house entirely IT
cork, and fitted it up for shop and
baths. i.
Four burglars, arrested in the act by
the London police the other night, were
all wearing gloves, in order not to leave
finger prints behind them.
A clock in the tower of the new Naval
college, at Dartmouth, England, will
mark the time as it is kept on board
ship, striking eight, six, four bells, etc.
A French road-mender, on road
near the Little st. Bernard, who has
saved many travellers from death in the
snow, has been made knight of the
Legion of Honor.
For the last 20 years there has been
employed at the Cherry Tree Inn. Old
Southgate, blind hostler. He can tell
regular customers by the sound of the
trotting of their horses.
An organ grinder is perambulating
the streets of London, having attached
to his organ q placard stating that he
is a whipthong maker thrown out OF
work by the automobiles.
An inhabitant of Farmoutiers, France,
has left legacy sufficient to provide
prizes of rs francs each yearly for the
two most polite scholars-male and
female-of the town. The winners are
to be elected by ballot of their school,
fellows.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-10-20

chunk of what appeared to be gold.
if it were not gold? t.
With such a prize in their posses
sion, what course should they pursue?
Who was the Indian? How had he
come by the gold?
Should they report the case to the
authorities? Neither the CRATER nor
the farmer suggested this course.
Possession being considered nine
points of the law, they felt no DISPOSE
ton to give up their extraordinary
find"
Finally the CRATER proposed burying
it in the farmers wheat bin for the
present
At this point Charlie explained
that under no circumstances did he
call it a gold BRICK" but always a
chunk of gold" g..
The wheat bin suggestion was fol-
lowed, and after filling the hole and
placing the shovel where it had been
found they carefully concealed the
gold underneath three feet of wheat
in the barn. The farmer now became
anxious to make certain that it was
really gold. The CRATER felt no doubt
on this point, but agreed it would be
best to have it tested.
At last che farmer suggested Just
what the CRATER had been waiting
for-that they look up an assayer, pro-
vided it could be done with safety, and
let him test it. So the next day they
drove to town, left the team at nv-
cry barn and together went by train
to Columbus to have the material
tested.
Having reached Columbus they
started uptown, and very soon met an
intelligent looking man, who, of
course, was one of the gang. Stepping
up to him in q businesslike way, the
High Mark" asked if he could tell
him whether there was an assayer's
Office in the city. 81
"Oh, yes" said the man, and d.
rected them to certain building
where an assayer's Office was on the
top floor. -
All this looked plausible, and when
they reached the top floor sure enough,
there they found a sign over one of the
doors: ~. S. Assayer's Office E.
A man, in short sleeves, with no col
lar, and wearing duck apron-another
member of the exaggerated them
pleasantly.
"Could we have piece of metal test
ed?" asked the CRATER. T.,
ITO be sure" said the assayer. ~
Can you positively tell us whether
or not it is gold?"
"Why not? That is what am here
for" -
"Now," said the CRATER, producing
the chunk of metal, II wish you would
first show us how you test metal, and
then test this in our presence"
Every WE'LL" said the assayer. ITO
give you demonstration, I will produce
three or four pieces of brass and copper,
then a piece of gold of such low karat
that it will not stand the test. After
this, I will test pieces Of gold. Here is
some acid that nothing but pure gold
can stand" @
So saying, he picked up q piece of
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-10-20

Copyright. 1905. by Joseph B. Bowles.)
The old-time gold brick scheme, "
although familiar in name, to almost
everybody, nevertheless is game of
whose inside workings few people
have the vaguest idea. Even men
buncoed out of thousand Of dollars by
it have been unable to understand or
explain every phase of the play.
The sharpers engaged in this risky
work are careful, educated men; in
fact just the class one would suppose
would keep clear of such danger
Gus and atrocious work.
In my Investigations of all sorts of
bunco schemes, it was many years be-
fore I was able to understand how it
could be possible to sell an Intelligent
farmer a gold brick for from $500 to
$1,000.
A man might stop at the same hotel
with a dozen Of these confidence men
for six months and never suspect what
was their business, or even that they
were interested in one another.
Always supplied with money, we'll
dressed and educated, they disarmed
suspicion, and for that reason were the
more dangerous.
Even while working up gold-brick
Job. no two of them were ever seen to-
gether. Nothing would be known of
their work until some farmer had been
swindled out of several thousand dol
lars. The newspapers could give only
q vague account of the affair, because
of the farmers inability to explain
how he had been duped. Besides not
org in ten victims would let it be known
hat he had been goldbricked.
Had 1 not accidentally discovered
that an old acquaintance was in the
gold brick business, and had been for
years, I never should have fathomed
1.-THE mysteries of the game.
Having naturally a good physique
this CRATER developed into maguiti-
cent specimen of manhood. When "a
years of age, he weighed 230 pounds,
was handsome, we'll proportional and
q fluent talker with the vocabulary OF
a college professor After leaving COL
lege he was first with large st. Louis
tobacco house, as travelling sales
man. While on the road he began
playing poker and eventually neg
lected his business. Later he began
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-10-20

quest ION from me as to the direction
in which they were going next he sad
that they had plans all laid for q Job
up in Wisconsin.
What are you fellows working
now?" I asked.
".'he gold BRICK" he replied.
Charlie has been working the gold
brick game long time, hasn't he?'
eyes; 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 l 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; $1,000 being the maxi
mum, and $4,000 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 visi:
the locality. Calling upon the farmer,
or "Rummy" as he was known to the
gang he would explain that he was
business man from Massachusetts,
and was looking around with a posi-
BILE view to buying a 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 wa: excellent sluir-
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 CRATER,
Il have at my hotel several fine guns
and plenty of ammunition, and / want
to have little fun. If you will give me
board for week or two, I'll bring out
my guns and will pay you $50 or SIS
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 CRATER 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 tn; CRATER limited
that he had a bottle of good stuff"
in his pocket, and producing quar-:
bottle of choice wine and whisky
mixed, took a drink and passed it to
the farmer, who also took social
smile. Then, to make the blind more
attractive, he hid the bottle under
log, remarking that it would come in
good play hereafter.
Being an experienced sportsman the
grafter's success in bringing down
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
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-10-20

gold bar" Gas the assayer had called
it), ia the bag. They returned to the
farmers home in high spirits, and again
buried the gold bar in the wheat bin.
In the estimation of the CRATER. tho
most feasible way to dispose of it was for
one of them to go alone to some large
city and have the bar made into several
ferent dealers. He even limited that he
would be willing to do it.
1.-TWO men together" he said, would
be likely to create some suspicion, as Of
fering the gold for sale is different
from calling upon an assayer for infor-
nation"
This suggestion was intended to make
the farmer suspect that his partner was
working scheme to beat him out of his
half of the gold.
The following morning telegraph
messenger came to the farmers house
with a telegram for the CRATER, which
read:
'Mother very sick; given up to die
Come Immediately.
(Signed) MARY" .
Half beside himself, the CRATER
showed the telegram to the farmer, and
said:
pei. "See here, I haven't the money to buy
your half Of the gold bar, and I haven't
time to wait to have it melted and d.
vided, so I'll tell you what I'll do. II
you will give me $500 you can have my
half"
Naturally the farmer hesitated, if for
no other reason than to get a better
deal; whereupon the CRATER showed
him that by accepting his offer he would
be getting $500 the best of the bargain.
"Well," the farmer said, IF can raise
$4,000 more than have on hand, I'll
give you $1,000 cash for your share"
"All right" agreed the CRATER.
"Take me to town and settle with me
and I'll start for Massachusetts on the
first train for the east"
The cash was, of course, forthcoming,
and would have been had the farmer
been obliged to mortgage his farm.
"Now, Charlie" said I, suppose I
should step into another room and call
the chief of police, and turn you over to
him, what would be the outCome?"
"Well," said he, II haven't given you
the name of anyone we have buncoed,
and as none of the 'rummies' have
kicked or made any kind of squeal,
what could they do to me? I'd simply
say that had lied to you, and that would
end 1t"
A small piece had been taken out Of
the brass or copper brick, and sun
GENTLY large piece of gold inserted, upon
which to enable the supposed assayer
to place his acid. With the exception
of this small piece of pure gold, the
whole brick was nothing more nor less
than brass or copper.
1t will be remembered that the Indian,
instead of burying the metal in the tim,
bered lot, planted" it on the opposite
side of the fence, on land owned by some
one other than the farmer. This gave
the farmer no chance to claim the whole
chunk Of gold, on the ground that Il
was found upon his property.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-10-20
Get Bic Salaries.

The combined salaries Of the presl-
dents of the IA leading universities in
the United States do not equal tile
amount paid the head of one life To-
surance company.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-10-20
Not the Best.

Honesty is the best policy" re-
marked the old-fashioned man. Eyes, !"
answered the disconnected citizen.
But some Of our big insurance COM
ranies haven't been writing that kind"
Washington Star.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-10-20
The One Woman.

II believe" he said, that for each
man certain woman was created"
YES she replied, land the divorce
records show that he generally finds
her sooner or later "-Record
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-10-20
By
J. p. JOHNSTON
THE GOLD BRICK GAME.

An Old But Successful Method of
Swindling Wealthy Farmers -
Plan So Intricate That Few Have
Understood 1.-THE "High Mark"
and His 'Gang"-An Indian, Cit
izen and an Assayer Play Their Re-
spective Roles-A Small Part Of the
Brick Pure Gold-Haul Of 1000
for the "Gang."
, 1905-05-24
MR.. AND MRS. F. w. MoNDELL
CELEBRATED ANNIVERSARY

Last Saturday being the wedding an
niyersary of Hon. and Mrs. F. W. Mon.
dell, they were entertained by Hon.
and Mrs. J. l.. Baird at their handsome
home on Winthrop street. After the
excellent dinner had been thoroughly
enjoyed the guests were enjoying
the hospitality of their hosts, they
were surprised by the arrival of the
members of the Twentieth Century
club and their husbands who improv-
ed the opportunity of Congratulating
our popular congressman Int his es-
Unable wife upon reaching another
milestone in their welded life. The
evening was spent in playing progress
sive somerset, the ladies prize being
won by Miss Clara kohns and the gen
tleman's prize by Mr.. Mondell. At the
close of the games delicious refresh
ments were served. An exceedingly
pleasant evening was passed, Mr.. and
Mrs. Baird being ideal entertainers
Newcastle News-Journal.
, 1905-05-24
M MIGRATION.

For 1904 the total number of immi-
grants was Sl2,S70 and for 1905 it will
be between 900, 900 and ZOO, 900. Pres
ident Roosevelt is considering this
menac to the nations welfare and
will call attention to it in his message
to congress. Some relief must be had
and that speedily. 1t is not the duty
of America to assimilate, educate and
civilize the o%ffscourings of Europe.
Our immigration laws should be amend-
ed so that the man or woman who
comes to this country shall be com
PEELED to produce evidence of good cit
izenship, intelligence and ability to
earn a livelihood in the country from
whence they come. They should also
have sufficient means to maintain them
comfortably for at least a year after
their arrival on American soil. The
idea that this country is a dumping
ground for all of southern Europe and
must be permitted to land every
thing they al gather up
must be changed America can care
for more than the Americans, but
those who come to us should by all
means be honorable, capable men and
women.
In discussing the matter Mr.. Walter
Wellman says:
These are appalling figures. They
are the more APPALLING when they are
analysed and their significance more
fully understood. They mean that in
a single year there pours into the coun-
try a multitude of humble people equal
to or greater than the present popu,
lation of any one Of eighteen states
of the union. 1t can that if all
these newcomers, poor of purse and
most of them poorer yet in qualifica'
lions for citizenship, were to assemble
in one place they would alone make a
city exceeded in population by only
New York, Chicago and Philadelphia.
1t means that to every eighty men,
women and children in the United
States at the beginning of the year
one is to be added during the twelve
month from the steerage of the trans.
Atlantic steamships. 1t means an in
crease of about 20 per cent in the mum.
Der of men in the United States whose
means of livelihood is such that they
are officially classed as "laborers' in
the census reports-and this 20 per
cent increase per year is reached by
the new arrivals will join the ranks OF
workers at the bottom of the industrial
ladder"
, 1905-05-24
Why Not See Mexico7

Forty eight hours travel will take
you from the cold clustering northern
winter to a land Of sunshine and flow.
ers. What Egypt and India are to the
old world, Mexico is to the new. "A
land of white sunshine, redolent with
flowers; a land Of gay costumes
crumbling churches, and old converts /:
a land Of kindly greetings. Of extreme
courtesy, of open, broad hospitality.
1t was more than enough to revel In
an Italian sun. lighting up q semitrop.
ical land; to look up to white-capped
peaks, towering into blue; to look
down upon wind-swept plains. encir-
cled by ragged chains Of mountains:
and to realize that today. in its varied
scenery, costumes. architecture. street
life, canals crowded with flower laden
boats, market plaxas thronged with
gaily dressed natives, faded church in.
teriors and abandoned converts, Mex.
leo ia the most marvelously pictur
esque country under the sun A tron.cal
Venice. 4 semi.barbarieus Spain, b new
Holy land" For rates and information
write T. q. FISHER,
@. P. A. c. I 8. Ry.. Denver. Colo.
, 1905-05-24
PRESBYTER|ANs
VOTE TO UNITE
WINONA LAKE GENERAL ASSEM-
BLY, ADOPTS RESOLUTION
WITH APPLAUSE.
One Of the Greatest Questions Which
Has Come Before Body Since Close
of Civil War-Committee to Con-
slider Corporate and Legal Rights
of Both General Assemblies.

Winona Lake, Ind, May 24.-The
Cumberland Presbyterian church vas
voted into the general assembly here
Monday amid a storm OF applause,
senting vote. 1t was the final action
of the general assembly, one of the
greatest questions which has come be.
fore it since the civil war, and brings
back into that organization a branch
which ven out during the war be
cause Of differences over negro sla
very. If the opposition to the union
had made any fight it has been chiefly
at the secret meeting of special can
Saturday, but there were yesterday nc
signs of such a contest. The specia
committe, in its report, canvassed the
votes taken by presbyteries on the
question of union. 1t showed 144 votes
in favor and 80 nays. Two took no &C
ton. one gave conditional assent ant
five made no report.
The special committee in its rec
concentrations asked that the PROPOSE
ton be referred to the committee OF
cooperation and union and that the
committee be increased in member
ship to twenty-one, that 1t have powel
to confer with a committee from th,
Cumberland church, that it find wha
details must be worked out to con
summate the union and that a repor
be made to the general assembly neX
year. This committee is to conside,
the corporate and legal rights to boil
general assemblies. The purpose is t.
Keep the combination within lega
limits that all civil suits and injunC
ton may be avoided. The COMMITTEES
is to confer with the trustees of thu
general assembly hat the corporate
and other rights of this body may b,
preserved. The report was accepted
as a whole.
, 1905-05-24
Canada Not With Us.

1t was the general impression that
Canada was only awaiting an invita-
ton to become part of the United
States, but when the question was pre-
scented to 800 Of their prominent peo-
pie, not one favored the plan. This
caused great surprise and considerable
comment. Another event that has also
caused considerable comment Is the
wonderful cures being made every day
by the famous Hostetter's Stomach
Bitters. Doctors and druggists every
where have been interested and surpris-
ed at its marvellous power, which often
affects a cure when other remedies had
failed. If your stomach is weak, and
you suffer from poor appetite, heart
burn, indigestion, dyspepsia, costive-
ness, cramps, headache. biliousness,
female complaints, backache, or ma
laria, fever and ague, the Bitters will
cure you Try a bottle today. 1t will
please you.
, 1905-05-24
kARNESL.MAN WEDDING
AT OMAHA NEXT MONTH.

The wedding Of Mrs. Jessie Dickin-
son Lyman, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Edward Dickinson, and Lieutenant Viii.
liam l.. Karnes of the Sixth cavalry,
will take place June Z, says the Oma'
ha Bee. Lieutenant Karnes is a
member of the personal staff of Gener,
al Y. J. Whit and chief ordnance of,
ficer of the department of Missouri.
He came to Omaha a little ove a year
ago and has figured prominently social
ly as well as in army circles.