New-York tribune., 1920-09-26
The Zagundjiis Are Ready Liars and
the Grebenaris Still Beg as
In Old Days

Speak 70 me- DuC sat watching me
antently while I conversed with the
one-eyed one In gypsy. I was sur
prlsed at the worried look upon their
faces, which. however, frightened
when they observed me in high
spirits. After drinking a glass of
beer / left them, on the understand
ing, between myself and the gypsies,
that the burning charcoal and the
half sovereign should be ready pune
tually at half-past ten on the fol-
lowing day.
Read y for the Trick
At 9 o'clock the next day 7 went
to money changer and got the re-
quifed gold piece. Punctually at the
appointed time the ex-combmaker
and his brother and cousins arrived
at my house. We repaired to the
dining room. The gypsies numbered
four, and we were three: myself,
wife and mother-in-law. We served
them with brandy. The villain was
in his most insinuating mood. was
to understand that this was merely
proba- But II I were willing to
fetch the required sum from the
bank we would repeat the expert
ment on a large scale, and I should
be rich, very rich. No one would
suspect us. No one would intrude.
"And, brother" producing, as he
spoke, the necessary ingredients
from his pocket, "this piece Of
linoleum, Of which I receive sup
ply periodically from Constantinople
(it is, Of course, contraband), and
this }Grlaolamsentsa (you see, it looks
like o bit Of caked earth) will en-
able me to convert your half SOW
ereign into q whole one Of such ap-
parent genuineness that it will de-
ceive the cleverest experts. II you
take 1t to the money changer he
will accept it. II you take it to the
police, accusing me Of coming false
money, they will arrest you for def
amation Of character. AS for the
furkGlGnentM, it Is the most expen-
sive Of the ingredients. A man
brings mo 8 supply twice g year
from Italy, down the Danube. gmug-
Cling 1t into the country at Rust
chuk. am a great artist, brother.
My wife being from Rumania, and
I having often visited her people, ]
have learned from our brethren over
the water (the river Danube) the
art Of successfully forging Rumani-
an banknotes. But prefer to work
in Bulgaria among a few trusted
friends. do no harm to any one
I merely help in q modest way to
increase the supply Of gold in the
country, which, as you know, is
scarce. But you will do as you like
brother. You have q family and
an establishment to keep up. What
is your 9ortune?" I mentioned hap
hazardly sum about twice my &C.
tual income. "That is indeed little
brother. Perhaps you cannot pro-
duce the money at present without
difficulty. Za-uzarel tut, it will
pinch you. If 30, have you nc
friends from whom you could take
the money on loan? Could you moi
telegraph to Mr.. Scott Macfie? Yog
will do what you wish, brother; II
you agree, well and good; IL not :.
sastims6s, your health, brother, NJ
harm Is DONE"
We listened with admiration x
this flow Of eloquenee, punctuatsd By
gentle, mesmeric gestures, the voice
rising and falling in we'll tempered
, persuasivenesa. I have spoken be
fore of the strangely gentle qualit.
Of voice possessed by the comb
makers. The swindler spoke in tn
same way, with the same gentl'
querulous note dominating his dis
course. "Why should be unreason
ables? But II / was unreasonable
sosttms6s. your health"
, Making the Money
Then We produced tray Of glow
? ing charcoal. and at his request
, franc. This he put into g littl
, iron bowl, together with q bit o
, charcoal, upon which he commence
, blowing. "Observe," he said, 81
. will not melt. Now, give me tn
4 half sovere;cn. which I wran I'M 4