The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-10-06
GAIN LIVING
By Sitting
Sand For
RICH JEWELS

+ all the ingenious and
unique ways OF earning
a livelihood. that which
Is known as sRnd-sifting
Is not the least interest
ing. This mode OF ''gst-
ling by" TO use the expression o.
those who wish 10 live easy WftnouI
doing hard work. IS, indeed, the idler's
IDEAL.
The LOSE OF a very valuable ring this
summer at Atlantic CITY. and the man
ner Of it's recovery, is responsible for
this article. The story was given me
at first hand
I had Just arrived al the seashore
and was walking down the boardwalk
with a very near lazy friend. II was
Just at dusk, and during the very IN
terestirg exchange Of news my friend
discovered I was wearing new dia-
mond ring. Anxious 10 see this, she
made the request 10 hold II. and IN
passing Il over II fell from my hand
and was Immediately lost through one
OF the cracks between the boards Of
the walk. The lady screamed, and
several persons nearby came up To
learn thu nature OF the excitement. Il
was at this moment. as I afterwards
learned, that my sand-sifter friend
approached. He was distingulshabIe
from others OF the curious, but from
his confession to ma later on. Re
proved to be on duty, as IT were, look
ing arr T his end OF tho business.
The best idea 70 me was to adVer-
tise in the morning newspapers the
loss. ard this did without delay. The
result was apparently good. for we
had hardly flashed our toilet the next
morning preparatory 20 an early search
when a party called at the hotel with
a request Sor an interview. II was a
young looking person fairly well
dressed, but with q strong odor OF
drink He came. he said, TO claim the
reward, a the same time showing me
the ring. iIc claimed TO have found II
on the boaIds=ik the night before. I
paid the reward. being only too glad
to recover the ring.
Some days later happened into one
Of the many restaurants along the
lower end OF the boardwalk and there
1 saw the finder OF my ring. He saw
nle about the same time. and probably
concluded vas an easy mark (and 7
must a2uht that I am susceDtible =,
a sad tate at tines). He approached me
Win an unsteady gait, bowed. and took
z Shai' o. the opposite side Of the
taoie- - had several drinks together
and during a general talk I asked bir,
how It was he had recovered nv rtD-
50 quickly.
Well" he SAID. .''tbat =. ,b. 81
am gong to give you. II Is late
t4e season now, and don't mind.
A Is not eaxctly graft, but SO near 1T
si-al II Is Questionable. 1 told you I
Louno the ring on the boardwalk. This
was not SO. for It WIS under the
BOARDWALK that I founl It. picked
y up immediately after you and your
iady mend had given UP the search.
aho did not care to return It that
night but thought to get a larger re-
"aru oy your overnight anxiety. You
see II IS this way. We have a gang
% Fellows, say half dozen or more
ana call ourselves ''sifters." A man
Is stationed each night to parole the
boardwalk for the distance between
TWO electric ligbs poles. and IN this
manner We cover a good portion of
the crowded section Of the walk. II
IS his duty 10 keep a close watch on
everybody passing, TO listen for a1v
Information he can that might be or
value to the business. and to learn OF
all losses.
We take note OF all this. and mark
the spot with a sinker line. which IL
piece OF strong twlns with lead
slnker on one end and q stick on the
other. The slnker IS dropped quietly
through the crack. and the place about
where the loss occurred Is marked.
Later il Is searched and the sand sffted
until we are rewarded. Now in your
case, I made the find alone. You see
the gang is about TO break up for the
season, and each OF US ere looking for
q home stlSe" 1 was near by when
you dropped the ring. 1 Immediately
dropped my ginksr line Just at the
crack near your feet, and strolleS
away. At the next stairway I ran
down, end using my pocket lantern
was nunting for the tell-tale string
when 1 heard you and your friend
searching Just beyond I waited until
you gave UP the search. and after find
Ing the string, II was a matter OF but
a few moments to sift the surfaoe sand
within a circle Of a few yards and
the ring was found