Evening star., 1928-05-31

Our people are notable for their
gullibility. This assertion Is compli-
mentary "mouthful," for 1t Is ,signifi-
cant of the high hopes and imagina-
ton of those who are susceptible.
A man who has long since gone
straight" said to us the other day.
ut has become the habit of the city
folks to chuckle at the credulity OF the
so-called hicks. and yet If I were to
deal again in the 'blue-sky' racket. I'd
choose the wise city guy every time.
His money is earned easier and he Is
not so loath to part with 1t. as the
man who tills the soil and to whom
every penny represents a bead OF
sweat.
There was time, 1t Is true, when
I worked the countryside on the old
portrait game. We would hire livery
rig and drive from farmhouse to farm
house, offering to make an enlargement
of a family photograph for nothing
absolutely nothing All the customer
had to do was to pay for the frame. A
lot of them fell for this, lock, stock
and barrel.
I'm a way. they weren't stung, be-
cause we really provided the enlarge
ment. Our profit was on the frame,
of course.
TRY to work that racket today In
the rural districts. and they'd have the
sheriff after you. Still I'll gamble that
there are many city people who would
fall for that stuff right now"
The truth of his observation is borne
out by a recent incident. Not long
ago, daughter of large city family
was entertaining her boy friend" at
her home. 1t was Sunday afternoon.
and save for the two the house was
deserted. About o'clock the phone
bell summoned the young woman, who
was surprised to hear the voice Of a
stranger, who told her that he (the
stanger) was acquainted with her
brother In California.
Obviously he was telling the truth,
for she had brother In California
and the name was correct. She was
so delighted that she invited the strange
person to come Immediately to her
home.
In less than half an hour, a dapper
chap stepped into the living room and
introduced himself as Mr.. of
Los Angeles. He was then presented
to the hoy friend" Mr.. of
Los Angeles then described to the
young lady the success her brother was
achieving out West and conveyed the
brothers love to the family. There
could be no doubt that he was init
mately acquainted with her brother.
II was SO perfectly lovely that he
should visit the family. Wouldn't he
stay to dinner that night? No. It was
Just too unfortunate, but he had made
previous engagement TO meet some
one else that evening. "Oh, by the
way" ventured the stranger, Il have
just received word from my firm to go
TO Chicago tomorrow morning. They
haven't sent me my check yet, and /
must leave before the banks open. I'm
short just ten dollars, and 1t is neces-
sary that ! leave in the morning. II
you have that much, I'll send 1t back
to you as soon as get to Chicago or
I'll give 1t TO your brother when ] get
back to Los Angeles. ! know he will
appreciate your aiding me. OF course,
you understand, ] am Just borrowing
the money, as I haven't received my
firms check"
OF course, the young lady understood
perfectly. 1t was Just too bad that her
brothers friend should find himself In
such an embarrassing predicament.
She lost no time In rustling up ten
dollars Of her own, and fearful that
that amount would be insufficient, she
asked her boy friend TO contribute an
other ten dollars, which he calamity
produced.
with the twenty dollars snugIy
folded In his pocket, the stranger
looked at his watch and declared re-
gretfully that he would be late for his
other appointment II he didn't leave
pronto.