Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-06
NEWS AND NOTES OF INTEREST
PICKED UP AROUND NEW YORK

guests regard with suspicion. In every
room there is a small closet with two
doors. One opens into the room and
the other on the hall. To this outside
door the valet possesses the key. The
inside door is locked by the guest after
he has put his clothes into the little
closet in order to have them pressed
and cleaned before the next morning.
II know the house is responsible for
the clothes If they are lost" said one
guest who hal refused to avail himself
of the new convenience, "but it makes
a man very uncomfortable to feel that
he has locked his clothes out and that
another has key to them. Then tho
fellow with only one suit would have to
wait a long time before the proprietor
sent out to buy him another"
Strong-Arm Men on Broadway
Strong-arm workers who are past
masters in the garrote and who know
where to touch the softest side Of ones
nut with a blackjack are working
Broadway from dusk until sunrise.
The strong arms" have stolen any
thing from diamonds to a bunch of
celery from passengers on the Broad
way surface cars, and during the past
week five men and one woman have
given ambulances a run as result of
having been struck by the blackjacks
of the thugs. The other night an
Englishman was robbed of his wallet
containing a large sum of money the
best watch in the world certainly-it
came from over 'ome-his diamonds
and eyeglasses. The victim is now at
Bellevue hospital with bandages and
iodoform about his head. He says New
York is Veritable Whitechapel
The Short Change Racket
Ever been short changed?" asked
the old 81" road ticket seller of a regu-
lar patron who had gone into the wait
ing room back of the ticket booth for
the heat of the stove and a chat. mo?
Well most men have al some time or
other. Guess you have and you don't
know it," He sold another ticket and
turned around in his chair again
change that would tangle old Nick him =
self" he continued. Most Of us know
and study them out to avoid them
Other men try to form them, SOS to
trip up the man at the other side of the
window. For instance, there's the 60-40
combination. It's a wonder. Sometimes
a man will shove you back a nickel
thinking you short changed yourself
This is the way 1t works: The ticket
seller takes a dollar from you for one
ticket. For change ne shoVes you a half
dollar and a dime, waits a minute un-
til you've counted f., and then throws
you six nickels. Now, here's where you
get your works wrong. You have noted
first the so cents he gave you and you
are waiting for 35 cents change and a
ticket. You get the ticket and 30 cents
which you count as 35 cents, which is
just what you eXpected-only a nickel
of the 35 cents is ticket. You start to
count it this way-90 cents and a ticket
---35 cents, 10 cents, 45-and a half-95
cents right. And away you 60 to catch
the train that's about to leave the sta
ton" The Oldest purchaser thought for
a moment intently, Then he fished his
pockets. producing six nickels, a dime
and half dollar lie looked incredu-
lously at the ticket seller. Thought
you said you had never been short
changed" chuckled the latter handing
him a nickel. 1T does not do to be
positive