THE "SPANISH PRISONER."

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 65, 8 July 1914, Page 4

THE "SPANISH PRISONER."

Australians and New Zealanders aro not the only one s who are caught by the Spanish prisoner swindle, for, according to the London correspondent of the "Sun," the threadbare' yarn is still doing duty in Europe, and generally brings its thioving author a very lucrative harvest. A Berliner was recently caught by the familiar story of hidden treasure belonging to a prisoner in a Spanish gaol, who served a life sentence. Fifty thousand pounds was to be his for a little travelling and a modest amount of money. He set out for Madrid, and met a mysterious person in a cafe, who lifted £4OO from him on account of expenses which had to be met before the treasure could be obtained. In return his business instincts were soothed by the receipt of a luggage check. This was necessary., because the fabulous fortune was secreted in certain trunks, which would only be handed to the bearer of this receipt. Returning to his hotel, highly elated by the success of his trip, lie found a telegram here, bidding him return home at onco. He took the first express to Berlin, feeling that the treasure could safely 1 be left until his domestic troubles had been adjusted. When he reached home a letter from the Spanish prisoner was in his rack, telling him that lie (the prisoner) had sent the wire, that the treasure only existed in his imagination, that the baggage receipt was a forgery, and that he was going to enjoy a very pleasant holiday upon, the Berliner's kindly gift. But rather than lot him think that he had spent his money for nothing he presented him with the .sage advice, that "it is better to be content to earn one's bread by honest toil than to go chasing rainbows across a continent."