The sun., 1908-05-17

the police in another respeot than ability
to speak their language. They need pro-
lection from the swindlers with whom the
city abounds.
Once moro brown boots and Baedekers
are appearing ON the boulevards. Once
more the cafe waiter keeps in a convenient
pocket his store Of coins which are not
currency. his francs on which Napoleon
III wears no wreath. these Swiss pieces on
which Helvetia is q sitting figure. and
Italian coins of less than five franc denomi-
nation, which he has acquired at cheap
'rafes'dufing the winter and Ii now prepared
to foist on the confding tourist. And once
more the bani OF swipdlers who live on
those eonfiding tourists are preparing for
the arrival OF their victims-not preparing
new tricks-that lis unnecessary-merely
getting ready to repeat the annual per-
formances.
30 perhaps once more the word Of warn
ing may be printed. in the hope Of saving
a few from being swindled. although NJ.
Lsbine. prsfect Of police and acting Provi-
dence, Of Paris. holds that nothing can be
done 10 save the victims Of these prac-
tisers OF whisker wearing wiles.
10 lake u SkJSCIIucu oH tuC bCE8Stb
Last autumn THR SUN printed an article
exposing two clever rogues who make
living. apparently a very. comfortable
one. by working on the patriotic feelings
OF kind hearted Americans. Their story
Of hard luck opens with the question: Are
you an American2' and proceeds with an
embarrassed laugh and apology for taking
up your time; but they have been travelling
in the south OF France and have been
robbed. They have had no. breakfast
and have 10 hope of lunching unless they
can borrow something. They rattle on
the names Of men they knew at Yale or
Princeton and give their addresses for
reference, and they have trained their in
tonation and manner to such perfection
that the American who refuses to help
them feels himself to be quite lacking In
patriotic spirit.
These two are still at their old game.
They have developed the faculty Of re-
membering faces to q degree that would
he a credit to king. and never approach
a reaident American a second time They
seem to have .wintered we'll their clothes
are all right, but at present they are wear
ing French boots. small detail they will
doubtless Eectify before the season Is In
full swing. One Of them does all the talk
ing and may be an American. the other
ID probably a Frenchman.
The. confidence game in its most ele-
mentary form is worked in Paris with uh-
failing regularity, The operators make a
point Of finding out first IL the victim they.
have marked down is to leave Paris soon;
IL not, they let him alone. II the coup comes
off they take the first train to kondon and
wait a few days before returning.
The best known practitioner in this line
Ia Australian by birth and named O'Brien.
His confederate picks up an acquaintance
with n tourist In the Louvre Museum or
at O cafe, and after the inquiry. as to the
date Of the tourists departure signals the
other to 60 ahead.
Sometimes o'Brien drops a little bag
which the tourist picks up and returns to
him. Profuse thanks and expressions Of
delight at meeting an honest' man follow.
The bag 10 opened and shown to contain
some alleged valuable rubies. One 10 offered
to the tourist and refused.
well at least have drink says the
owner OF the bag. n.
This invitation 10 accepted. and. over IL
the bag owner. who is venerable looking
gray haired fellow. tells how he holds in
trust $1,000 to be given to the Pope and
$4,000 to be giveptto the poor in America.
rhSn the old game Of showing confidence is
played and the victim 40 left minus his
money and plus pocketbook which he
believes contains $4,000.
Z It-seems incredible that such an old.
gauas can still be worked yet last aumner
one. victim took these. two confidence men
to his bank and casfcd his letter. Of credit
to get the money to show his faith,
Another Australiap who had picked up
an acquaintance with an Anierican had
'hever seen an American bin. The Amer
lean showed. him roll Of 500, which tho
n,