The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-09-20
SKIN GAME
WORKED IN
HAMMOND
Shoemaker Film -FIammed
Out of Savings in Game
Old as Hills
Tap, Tapl Tap, Tappity Tap


The merry rap of the shoemaker's
hammer filled the soul and shop OF
Jan Javorslsi at ss7 Holman street.
At the door came different tap!
Tap"
Come IN" said Jan. as best he
could for his mouth was full of
tacks.
Two men entered. They were large
and seemed to crowd the little shop.
One of them carried a shoebox wrap
ped in paper. The other talked.
MY father left me $1,000 to dis
tribute among the poor. Your lowly
occupation should ft you nicely to
spread this good cheer among the
worthiest OF your people. You know
them, / do not. So I have come to
you, hearing OF your integrity and
kindness and the good will with which
you are held hereabouts. VIII you
help me get rid of this money!" said
the kind stranger as he lit an effic-
lent looking cigar.
Oh yes. Jan would. He could think
OF nothing nicer than handing the
Widow Skowticz a fat purse or buy
ing the Roskonticz orphans some
new clothes, or-but JAMS mind was
overwhelmed with the many good
things he could do and the great
happiness he could bring with s11.-
600.
"Just to show us you are sincere.
e. ~
your own money in this box We'll
leave the box with you and later
we'll be back to see how you are
coming along with the distribution"
said the rich heir.
So in the presence Of the stranx-
ers and his wife. Jan took his life's
savings. $500 and placed 1t in the
shoebox with that Of the $1,000
belonging to the wealthy young man
who was going to help the poor.
JAMS eyes widened as he caught a
glimpse Of the roll of greenbacks IN
the box. 1t was so much larger than
his own and in fact was the biggest
roll he'd ever seen.
After the money had been safely
tucked away the strangers leisurely
wrapped up the box and passed II
over to the trembling hands of Jan.
But the adventure was too much for
self of the valuable package and
handed it to his good wife.
A few minutes talk followed and
the strangers left, promising to re.
turn the next day. Jan sent his wife
UP the little stairs in the rear Of
the shop and into their two room
home. He cautioned her not to leave
the box out of her sight all day and
he would summon Alex and Steve
and Nick for a consultation that eve-
ming. They would make plans for
| distributing the money and Jan
would be the Santa Claus.
The wife went back to the rooms.
walking very carefully and holding
the box very close to her. 1t was
quite strange. all this thing. She
didn't exactly get the drift of II.
She mumbled to herself. doubling a
little bit whether JAMS wisdom had
not suffered because of his altruism.
She left the box on the kitchen table
and tip-toed back to the door leading
into the shop. Jan was pegging
away at his last
She returned to the table and very
gently unwrapped the box Her ner-
vous fingers flew faster as the hor-
rible thought finally crowded out all
else that something was wrong. that
the strangers were crooked.
She made no outcry when the lid
of the box flew back revealing a heap
of newspaper cuttings. And nothing
else. Just paper. Not even their
own meager life's savings. Gone,
1t took her a long time again to
reach the side of Jan. who was peg
ging and singing as he thought of
the happy smiles of the orphans in
| their new clothes.
| She told him at last And in the
evening the two Of them went to the
police station. But 1t was an old
story to the police. The clever
strangers who dupe kind shoemakers
and switch newspaper cuttings for
real money. 1t was an old story.
! 1T was too bad that Jan should
lose his money. Maybe the police
could find the men, but that was
doubtful They usually get out of
| town"
| Jan is back in his shop today.
Tap! Tapi Tap! Tappity Tap."