Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1901 — COULDN'T FOOL COUNTRYMEN. [ARTICLE]

COULDN'T FOOL COUNTRYMEN.

foang Chicagoan Gets Into a Scrape from Politeness. One young man in Chicago found himself in a very embarrassing position during Geand Army encampment week because of the fear of some of the visitors from the country who thronged the city. The newspapers had published columns of warnings to the people from the country against the smooth tricksters who swarmed the city, waiting to lead the strangers to thfc tunnels to see the “explosion,” or something of the kind, and to relieve them of their ready cash when they reached the first dark alley. Herbert McCulla, who travels for a well-known Chicago gas lamp company, had Just returned to this city over the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, and was walking south on sth avpnue to go to ills home on the West Side on a West Madison street car. As lie ties red Randolph street he encountered two gray-haired veterans from tlie country, and overheard one of them advise the other to go to the policeman on the next corner and ask xvhere the Briggs House was. McCulla knew very well where the hotel was situated, and, stepping up to the strangers, lie said:

“The Briggs House is just around the corner on Randolph street. Come along, I’m going right past it and will point it out to you aud save you the •trouble of looking for a policeman.” “Get along with you,” said one of the strangers. "We’re onto you confidence men. We’ve read of you in the papers.” The accommodating Chicagoan laughed aud started to leave the strangers, but just at that time a b'.ue-coated officer appeared around the corner and one of the strangers rushed up to him and reported that tlie man with the valise was a confidence man ami had just tried to entice them to go with him so that he could rob them. The policeman rushed after McCulla aud grabbed him by tlie collar, demanding him to explain why he had tried to lead the two strangers with him. The drummer explained to the officer that he had merely*voluutered to direct the strangers to their hotel and explained who lie was nnd what firm lie worked for. The policeman was skeptical and would not believe him. aud asked him to show evidence of his identification as a traveling salesman. McCulla put Ids ha ml iu lifs pocket to get a card or a letter, hut discovered that lie did not have a paper of any description In liis pocket by which lie could prove his statements, and to keep from going to the station he was forced to open his valise on tlie street and produce letters from Ids firm ami show his samples, after which the officer ajiologized and released him.—-Chicago Chronicle.