AN AMERICAN CONFIDENCE TRICK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 2, 30 November 1883, Page 3

AN AMERICAN CONFIDENCE TRICK.

Much has been said and written about the simplicity on hind ot poor Jack Tar. Now, lei me relate a true story, m which I, second*»mate of the Ocean Queen-— we will cay— played a consL>icuorß part . We' had ha ta t ugh passage from the Gapfli got stranded, and hove to once or twice ; then: came heavy sea* and 'high winds th it bore us out of our course ; hence all hands weie glad enough when we got i;t> pot, Ne-v ! York Qity. It was the first time, l set '. fooVin'' Yankeeland, fo perhaps it is a ' bit excusable if my first impression wa? a curious and lasting on-. Tne boatswain—a very eood fellow, open-heart-ed as anj of his kind— and myself were walking down on* of" the ' principal thoroughfares of the city, wneu our "lances atone and the same time alighte' upon a kid glove lying m the street. One of us— l forget which -picked it up, and with an ejaculation— from both {discovered a lady's gold rinf, set with : stones, fixed m one of the fi.-gers. In the flush of astoni-bment of our upod lack, before even we decided what to do, ia gent Wan* tapped me on the shoulder anu m a tew MOids informed us that be had been an eje-witness of the disiapvery.and cool.d, it we so daired, give us information respecting, its value and best method of 'its mo 5 t profitable disposal, he having beeo, hesn«J, 'at one time m the trade.' i We listened, and were;willing to coor sent to the now-comer's taking o«e third the profit m exchanga for the c valuable information.' Hereupon, the , latter, ttatiag as his- reason Lis hivinjr, 1 business that called I i.m t up country that very day, magnanimously proposed !>o sacrifice his share' for, ;' oay five I pounds down; an' l gu-ta us no bad bargain ye'er makn," hi added with all 'good tamper and much good-wili; then commencing to give evidence ot his knowledge and past experience "m the trade," by drawing attention to eighteen carat gold, the purity of the • fir t wa er" Wne, &c. Five pounds c'owh'l .We were flash otcoin, and inclined to be more thr.n geneio is. My mate was ready at once to agree to the ariau'gemenv.j lut lor my elf 1 felt a sudden uneasiness, a taint suspicion, aud when called upon | tor my consei t, expressed my disinclination. The boaiswain grew somewhat , warm; but I was determined and obdurat.' I would not assent. Raher would I have nothing whatever to do with it, I sail. Very well, then;, he would. The bargain was s rn^k. The money passed hands. The stranger smilingly bade us good-day, wishing us many pleasant vo^.a,»es and many mor^i Fuch strokes cf luck, aud was gone*, leaving my mate and self, the former minus five pounds of his hard earnings, but m pp session of ,an old, kid glove, a piece of Brummagem jewelled, worth as he aftrrwai ds learnt ts his sad experience—sixpence, and a mind full to distraction; ot ' valuable information l'