The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-08-08
AN old COLD BRICK
Used For Fleeing the lnnocents
a Generation Ago.
THE PATENT SAFE SWINDLE.


remain unchanged from generation to
generation, so that the rogue of today
would have no trouble in recognizing
his counterpart of the seventeenth cen
tury, nevertheless there are fashions
In tblevery, as in everything else. Old
tricks are cast of like threadbare
coats in favor of newer ones, and
hese I'm turn are discarded when pub
icity has rendered them familiar and
therefore less effective, but plausibility
qualities of the gentry who live by
their wits.
The newest type Of confidence man
is the get-rich-qulck individual who
breathes Of money and wouldn't turn
his hand to small sob" He angles
for victims with new corporations and
great business ventures for bait, but
he is the same man who generation
ago raked I'm the sheckels by means Of
the patent safe game. This game is
now an outworn fashion. But 1t had
its points.
Let us suppose countryman. car
petbag in hand, to have allghted at
the union station and set out to see
the sights. Although his name is con
veniently printed on the outside of his
bag or set down In u legible hand on
the hotel register, he Is amazed to find
himself Hospitality greeted by an utter
stranger, who knows his name and
the town from which he halls. The
stranger Is an old friend whom the
cOuntryman is ashamed to think he
cannot remember-place is the word.
But the stranger is very affable and
lays himself out TO entertain the new
conner. They stroll about town in
company. visit bar or two, exchange
"reminiscences and at the end of Il few
hours are bosom companions. The
stranger invariably pays the score. has
n lordly disdaln of money; good fell
lowshlp Is its own reward.
The two stroll by devious ways until
finally while they are walking arm in
arm down a quiet bystreet the stran-
gers eye is caught by curious object
lying on the pavement. He pauses to
examine IT, 1t is n miniature globe
about the size of billiard ball. The
stranger turns it over curlously in his
fingers and finally sees that 1t is fitted
with small plug, which comes out
under pressure. Continuing his ex-
plorations, he then unscrews the top
OF the plug. takes out piece OF crum-
pied paper, shows his dupe the empty
box and throws the paper on the
ground There Is a similar bit of pa
per I'm the small chamber at the end
Of the plug. but this the countryman
does not see. The two then stroll on,
discussing the mysterious ball.
Presently they come upon worried
looking man, who is studying the
ground with face the pattern of de-
spair. The roper observes him and
wants to know whether he has lost
something
Lost something, indeedp' says the
man. "Why. I'VE lost an invention of
mine that | wouldn't nave taken $10,-
900 for II was patent fire safe
which would save hundreds of thou
sands of dollars worth OF papers and
valuables every year. was Just on
my way to Blank & Blanks, the safe
manufacturers, to get one made, and
here have lost the model"
The roper Is evidently much touched
by the inventors distress. He pro-
duces the wooden globe and Is imme-
diately overwhelmed with expressions
OF gratitude.
"But what good Is that invention Of
yours?" asks the roper.
"Weli," says the inventor with pride,
''you see, It is set on props. When there
Is fire all you have to do Is to knock
out the props and the safe rolls down
an incline right out of the building as
neat as you please. There's a box in
side to hold the papers There Is
paper In this box right now"
AT that the roper winks slyly at the
farmer and whispers In his ear "I'll
make him bet on that piece of
paper"
"Come," says the roper, that's a
pretty tall yarn. don't believe there's
any paper In that ball, III bet there
isn't scrap or paper IN II.
"I'll bet you 81 900 there's paper in
it," says the inventor. much incensed.
II haven't that much with me-" says
the roper, but I'll just bet you Il hun
dred on It," With that he takes out
number Of bills, say $50 or so, and a
bank check for the other $50. To his
friend the farmer he says, "Wlll you
Just lend me $50 on this check until
can get 10 my hotelw
The farmer sees that his friend Is
sure to win. He advances the $40,
when, behold. the inventor draws out
the plug. removes the concealed paper
from Its small chamber and collects
the bet. The roper Is decidedly crest.
fallen, but while he Is still lamenting
his folly II policeman rushes up.
charges him with gambling and makes
n grab for him Roper fees. but the
farmer Is cuught After protesting his
innocence the farmer Is allowed to de-
part. Still fearful of arrest, he fees
the city When he presents his check
he discovers that roper, inventor and