The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-01-18

Idea, usually 90 popular with city
people, that all rubes live in the
seems to, lack force In
New York. Too many people are
being cleyerly separated from their
small change. For IN the wake Of
the crime wave has come an cpl
demic Of petty graft. to which 1he
shrewd, sophisticated New Yosker
has succumbed IS easily a. he did
to last years fiu, showing himself
to be quite as gullible % his rural
relatives.
Hardened shop keepers OF long
city training have been buying take
furs and paste jewels with . reck-
less good nature that would aston
ish even . suburb. and thousands
Of canny Broadway residents have
been contributing to fake causes
with . sentimental abandon rarely
exhibited by the citisens Of small
towns. In spite Of all the talk
about money being tight, beggars
and fraud specialists are having .
nicer time in New York this year
than they have ever had before.
Here is the sort Of thing which
is constantly happening to enliven
the atmosphere along Broadway
and Fifth avenue.
The other night, q friend of the
reporter, a shrewd young business
man in Wall street, was on his way
home when he was accosted by q
well-dressed. well-buih stranger,
who stretched forth a gl0ved hand
in delighted recognition.
Il don't suppose you remember
me-" said the unknown one, with
an admirable mixture or cordially
and reserve, but l have seen you
SO often on the street. I'm employ
ed in the next once building, you
know. Here in New York we don't
speak to people SO readily as we do
in my home town, but I've often
wanted Well, I'm awfully
lucky to run into yQlk now. for I'm
in need of help. u had In acct
dent and had to haul my car into
a garage about three blocks. from
here, and now / find. I'm Just IS
short on the repair bill. Worst Of
it is I promised to meet my wife at
the station this afternoon. She'll
be loaded down within Christmas
junk and won't have a cent left. AS
soon as caught sight Of you.
though, it occurred to. me that you
might be able to help me out"
A New Touch.
At this point, the stranger drew
forth his wallet and disclosed a fat
roll Of small bills.
1--we got $50 here" he smiled
drolly, but the repair bill is $5S.''
Then, with engaging frankness: 81
am going to ask you il you can let
me have the extra five until tomor-
row morning. l can run right over
to your office from. mine in a few
minutes and hand it back to you. !"
That's all right" interrupted our
friend. uneasily. but agreeably
taking FIVE spot from his much
smaller roll of bills. Glad to let
you have it. I may need some help
myself some time"
And that was the end of the in
cident-except that the cordial
stranger has never been seen since
and inquiry in the next Office
building revealed no information
concerning him. But few days
later, the morning papers warned
their readers about this particular
form of touch"
1t is extraordinary to What
lengths the small fraud artist will
go to obtain five spot, as the
young assistant of a well-known
woman philanthropist here can tell
you. This young woman was quiet.
ly cataloging in her Office the othel
day. when a nice-looking youne
man, with soft brown eyes and
neatly combed pompadour, attired
in Immaculate clothes. dashed ex.
| citedly in the door and asked te
see Mrs. j., the young woman's EN-.
plOyer.
Where is she?" he demanded
his face flushed apparently fronAths
exertion OF running. Il must SCI
her at once. l ran all the way III
here from the hotel down tn,
block. Gone to lunch? Oh, 1 say
that's tough. Is there any way
can reach her immediately-yo,
see, I'm in a rather embarrassing
predicament." ;
I'm afraid l don't know wher,
she is" said the assistant. but sh,
ought to be back in about an hour.
What am I to do?" exclaimed
the young man dramatically. "Per
haps you can advise me. You see
I've asked girl to lunch, and wher
we were seated at the table dowr
there at the hotel, I suddenly dis
covered didn't have a SCRAP o.
money on me. All in my othel
clothes, you know" he explained
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