Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-20
.SHoRT-CHANGERS IN ACTION
Two visitors at COney Island Are
shown How the Trick L.
Done.

The experience OF two OF the three hun
bred odd thousand people at Coney Island
who passed among the psychic palm read
ers, the astrologers and the hoopIa attrac-
tons of the big seaside playground Sunday
was typical OF the qualities of the days
wideopenness.
They worked through the jam toward the
Bowery, where the string Of free shows
lay OF which they had been given a list
by previous investigators. with assurances
that they would find Sunday made no diff
ference to the usual weekly run.
At Inman's the largest OF the places that
have not yet given up the choruses for the
moving picture attractions, they were Of
fered beer at % cents a glass with sand
witches at a similar figure.
"Ill serve your drinks upstairs II you'd
Just as soon. Costs no more. and the show
looks better up there confided the walter
on taking his order.
And I'm awfully overloaded vac silver"
he whispered close in his patrons ear a
minute later won't you be good enough
to give me paper money for about IS worth
Of it?''
That was the typical style of the short
change effort. The patron responded at
once, and received a handful of quarters.
dimes and nickels. He started to put 1t in
his pocket, concluding to find out little
later just how much he was short.
Count It, count it, and make sure you're
right" insisted the waiter
The visitor did So 1t was 10 cents short
He was at a loss to understand how the
waiter would take all the trouble of having
his money changed for so small fee. He
started to rejoice; he was obtaining first
hand evidence of how the game was worked
at a very small cost when the walters fist
reached down into his and gathered up the
pile OF coins
Laying them flat out in his hand, no
counted them all over again, very carefully
and slowly, ssif to impress his customer
with the correctness OF his figuring.
'Ah, yes" he said 10 cents Short" and he
handed over another dime But instead OF
putting 1t In with the rest OF the money
he handed It over separately, passing the
handful over in second allotment This
time when the customer counted his money
1t was $12O short and the waiter was lost
In the packed house.
In this instance no cutlery was made 10
attract the strong armed bullles who ara&
kept as the first reserve force of the shot
changers to make a riot out of any effort
to demand full change.
Down the street a little ways past a
moving picture show, where the BURNS
johnson fight pictures were being barked
for as Jeffries-Johnson views, the visitors
took seats in Connors' Imperial cafe Here
an Oriental dancer from the heart Of dark
est Africa via Mobile did her own varia-
tons on the dance that once made a
Seeley dinner famous.
A mixed white and black chorus filled
In at intervals I'm sorry, old chap, but
I'm awfuly packed with small bills. Could
you let me have tenner for ten ones?"
piped tie waiter after making his usual
wineroom condolences.
The $40 bill was produced and numbar
of 81 bills were handed out in exchange
The case seemed to offer possibilities to
observe how settlements were made after
police call was threatened.
The 81 bills totaled 50. There's dollar
shy here" replied the customer In rather
loud tones. Walters began at once to
move in his direction.
who's kicking up a fuss?' beloved
one. But the waiter who had made the
change was willing to try a recount.
Here's another BILL" he said, as he fin
ished and handed one over, passing the
original roll back separately. Again the
customer counted in and again there were
nine. He had been assured previously IL
under such conditions he left the cafe
ana started lot the ponce SJaClOn no Would
be followed and intercepted.
He had scarcely turned from Surf avenue
into Eighth avenue. where Captain Calvin
has his headquarters. when the interceptor
laid hand on his shoulder.
Here's your other dollar" he said. For
get It, We was only -kiddin' you"
And I've seen the likes Of you get SIX
months for the trick you tried 10 turn"
the othe man replied, "and maybe yours
Is a face that's good for year" He put
the bill in his pocket and the walter went
back to his trade on the bowery.-New
York Times.