Pueblo chieftain., 1921-01-18
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.

Y By Frederic ]. Haskin.
New York City, Jan. 15.-The idea,
usually so popular with city people,
that all rubes live in tho country,
seems to lack force in New York this
4 season. Too many people are being
cleverly separated from their small
change. For in the wake of the crime
wave has come an epidemic OF petty
graft, to which the shrcwd. sophisti-
Gated New Yorker has succumbed as
easily as ne did to last years flu. show
ing himself to he quito as gullible as
4 his rural relatives.
Hardened shop keepers of long city
training have been buying fake furs
and paste jewels with reckless good
nature that would astonish even
suburb, and thousands of canny Broad
way residents have been contributing
to fake causes with a sentimental
abandon rarely exhibited by the citi-
zcns OF small towns. In spite of all
tho talk about money being tight, beg
4 gars and fraud specialists are having
a 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, a friend of the re-
porter. shrewd young business man
in Wall street, was on his way home
when he was accosted by we'll
dressed. well-built stranger, who
stretched forth a gloved hand in de-
lighted recognition.
II don't suppose you remember me-
said the unknown one. with admira bic
mixture of cordiality and reserve but
/ have seen you so often on the street.
I'm employed in the next Office build
ing. YOU know. Here in New York we
don't speak to people so readily as We
do in my home town. but rvc often
wanted. Well. I'm awfully lucky TO
run into you now. for I'm in need Of
help. lust had an accident and had to
haul my car into a garage about three
blocks from here. and now I find I'm
just IS short on the repair bill Worst
of It is I promised to meet my wife
at tho station this afternoon. Shell be
loaded down with Christmas junk and
won't have cent left. AS soon as
to me that you might be able to help
me out"
New Touek
At this point. the stranger drew forth
his wailc, and disclosed a fat roll of
! small bills.
I've got hfty-thrcc dollars here"
he smiled droily. but tho repair bill is
nifty eight Then, with engaging
frankness: II am going to ask you IL
you can let me have the extra FIVE un-
til tomorrow morning. can run right
over to your office from mine in few
minutes and hand 1t back to you
That's all right interrupted our
friend uneasily, but agrceabiy, taking
fivc spot from his much smaller roll
OF bills. Glad to let you have it. may
need some help myself some time
And that was the end OF the incident
except that the cordial stranger has
never been seen since, and inquiry in
the next Office building revealed no in
formation 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
n fivc spot. as tho young assistant of
a weil-known woman philanthropist
here can tell you: This young woman
the other day. when nicc-lookinS
young man. with soft brown eyes and
neatly combcd pompadour. attired in
immaculate clothes. dashed cxcitediy
in tho door and asked to SEQ Mrs. j.,
tho Young woman's employer.
"wherc is she?'' he demanded. his
face flushed apparently from the cx-
crtion of running. II must sec her at
once / ran all the way up hero from
the hotel down the block. Gone TO
lunch7 Oh, say. that's tough. Is there
any way I can reach her immediately
you see. I'm in a rather embarrassing
predicament.''
I'm afraid don't know where she
| IL. SAID inc assistant, Dut snO ouEnt
to be back in about an hour"
What am to do7" exclaimed the
young man dramatically. Perhaps you
can advise me. You see, I've afked a
girl to lunch, and when we were seated
at the table down there at tho hotel. 7
scrap of money on me. All in my other
clothes, you know" he explained in
evident embarrassment. $50. knowing
Mrs. J. very well. I thought ! could
her. but I suppose it's no use. I can't
leave the young lady waiting for an
hour"
TIE Bogus FrienA
The young assistant was sympa-
thetic. Shc thought the young man
looked very boyish and helpless. and
she felt sorry for the damsel, who was
about to be deprived of her luncheon
. with him. So she took the fifteen dol
n lars he said he needed from her own
purse and insisted upon his accepting
it. in perfect confidence that he would
return 1t, as he said he would, the
next afternoon.
But whom Mrs. J. returned, tho
young assistant was dismaycd to learn
that that good lady had never heard Of
Gavin Courtney. the name the young
man gave. nor did sho know any young
man who answered his description. A
few days later, however. when she de-
ecribed him to the police. they seemed
to be on quite familiar terms with
him.
One OF the most expensive cases OF
fraud which recently occurred on
Fifth avenue in tho shopping district
was one in which thar most sophisti-
Gated of humans. professional
chauffeur. was hoodwinked.
Tho mans employer, a very wealthy
woman, had just removed her twenty
thousand dollar sable coat from stor-
age in a furricrs shop, and upon rc-
turning to the car, left 1t In his care
while she continued her shopping. As