The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-05-24
A CONFIDENCE GAME,
Il Was Boldly Planned and Suc'
ceSSfully Worked.
the VICTIM BADLY CAUGHT.

die by Which Two Clever Sohener
Fleeeed Helpless Hotel Keeper ou
Of 5000.
II dare say you never heard Of tn
great smallpox swindle," said the hotC
manager, THE facts of that remark
able affair We're withheld at the tim
for the most urgent reasons OF policy
and even now ! prefer to tell the stor,
without names or localities. 1t hap
pened in the fall of 1886. when Ger
tain hotel In n large western city wa
crowded with tourists. One day n
the height OF the season two gentle
manly looking strangers put up at III,
house and were assigned to what W,
call double ROOM About a weel
later one OF them appeared at the Of
flce and requested private interview
with the manager. / regret to inform
you. he said after the door was closed
that my friend is down with a ST.
we're attack Of smallpox
''The proprietor nearly fell out OF
his chair, There was known to be
smallpox In the city, and the bare sug.
gestion that the disease had appeared
in the hotel was enough to empty 1t In
a twinkllng. To let the news get out
meant the loss of thousands upon
thousands of dollars. Ii meant the
ruin of the seasons business. lie
must be quietly removed at once said
the proprietor trying to control his
agitation.
Removed" exclaimed the other
Taken through the cold air to laza-
retto! Why, man. that would be muir
der! I'll not permit itr
THE hotel keeper was thunder.
struck. DO you mean to say he must
stay hereT he gasped.
Certainly said the stranger
ut was tlcklish situation. The ho-
tel keeper dare not enforce bis sugges-
ton, while to let the case remain was
like storing gunpowder in furnace
room. He pleaded protested. begged,
threatened and clustered, but all In
vain. The man was firm as rock. If
you attempt to eject my Sic: friend
be declared, I'll publish your lnhuman.
ty to the entire community
Finally 1t occurred to the distracted
to see first whether 1t was
really case Of smallpox, 80 he sent
Tor physician, swore him to secrecy
and hustled him up TO the room. The
1octor took one look at the dlsfgured
face on the pillow and reported that
the malady was there In malignant
type. He advised the mans immediate
'emoval at any cost. If you keep him
he said, the disease may
spread, and it would ruin you for life.
You owe something to your guests.
Again the proprietor interviewed the
riend, and again the latter refused to
Judge from his position.
"Where can / take himT be de-
handed. You know very we'll I can't |
yet comfortable quarters for such a |
urpose. and won't have him butch
red in pesthouse TO please any land. |
ord on earthr The hotel man felt his
air stand on end, but concluded to let
hings stand as they were until morn
lg.
Next day he sent for the sick mans
riend and asked him whether he had |
ny suggestions to make.
Yes he replied. I thought up
Ian overnight, which you may adopt
r not, as you like. AS said before
e continued, 1t is useless to try to
ent quarters for such a case We
light, however, buy a small cottage
nd take him there. have figured
he thing up. and the total expense
'ould be about $1,000. If you are
'illing to hand over that amount |
Ill take him away and assume all
lrther responsibility. | make the Of
er entirely out Of sympathy for your
uests.'
"The landlord looked him in the eye
, too, have thought the situation
ver,' he said, and I'm convinced it's
confidence game pure and simple.
m convinced there's nothing the mat
n with your dear friend upstairs,
ut l am also convinced that the
ightest breath Of the affair would
'eatly damage the reputation Of the
Ouse. AS business proposition
,nsider 1t worth $1,000 to get rid of
)u.'
"The other man smiled ironically.
all a cab and get out your money
, said, and inside an hour the incu-
Is had been spirited through a side !,
nor swathed in blankets and driven
way.
"As the landlord shrewdly surmised.
e whole thing was q confidence !
me, and he learned the particulars /
ter on through sport he had once {
There was nothing the +
after with the rascal upstairs except :
at his face had been pricked a little
ith quill dipped ia croton oil, some
ing that makes horrible looking
Istule, which disappears in a few
US and leaves no mark. always
ought the hotel man showed good
nse in taking the course he did. He
as canght IN q trap and took the