Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 240, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 October 1917 — UPPING THE COUNTRY FOLK [ARTICLE]

UPPING THE COUNTRY FOLK

A LOCAL MAN IS EASY PREY FOR A SLICK TONGUED 1 STRANGER. A Rensselaer man, whose name we will not mention in order that he may be saved from embarrassment, paid a visit to Chicago Tuesday and as a result .gained a little experience which in the future will cause him to keep his fingers clenched more tightly about his purse when leaving the rural districts to take a peek at the sights of a great city. The little experience which the Rensselaer gentleman passed through only cost him $5, as the slick tongued stranger who approached him with the idea of “jipping” him out of a fair sized roll of the stuff that makes the world go round, was confining his efforts to small money. The said Rensselaer man was walking down the busy city streets, when a stranger approached him, tapped him on the arm and with a most pleasing smile and the glad hand asked him how the folks in Rensselaer were and what his business in the city was. Of course, the Rensselaer man did not recognize the stranger and told him so. “Why, that’s funny,” said the oily tongued stranger, “that you should not know me, for I run a garage in your city and I know you well. You are Mr. .... (Giving the correct name) and I have seen you lots of times.” The familiarity of the city man with Rensselaer and its people was convincing to the man who was to be plucked a few moments later, and he was reday to listen to the plea of the stranger. After conferring with the imposter for a few moments, the Rensselaer citizen naturally found that the stranger was in need of financial assistance. The city man’s tale of trouble was as follows: “I came to the city today by automobile and after arriving here my car broke down. The repair bill amounted to $54 and I am unable to get the car, as I have but SSO with me, so I have come to you to get the necessary $4 With which to complete the payment of the garage bill. If you will be so kind as to slip me a five spot, I will let you ride back to Rensselaer.” Always anxious to help a fellowman. in distress, the Rensselaer citizen handed over a $5 William, stating that he would wait for the car at such and such a'corner. The stranger disappeared, stating that he would be back a little later. At last reports the slick tongued stranger had not kept his engagement. No, the Rensselaer man did not come home by automobile; he used the Monon.