A FOOL AND HIS MONEY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5731, 28 October 1905, Page 13

A FOOL AND HIS MONEY.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, September Ist. Paris has provided a neat variant of the confidence trick. Alarmed by tho failure of certain sugar- specula-; tors and the performances of Gallay,' a too cautious inventor, drew all his money—some £I,OO0 —out of tho bank. Ho found, however, that the possession of so much cash entailed a lot of worry. - His nights were disturbed by dreams of burglary, and altogether ho was very unhappy lest his hoard should bo purloined. One day ho got into conversation with a distinguished-look-ing countryman. _at an hotel. _ Tho stranger according to the visitors’ book and bis own cards and con vernation was a Count, and ho soon gained tho confidence of tho embarrassed capitalist. Tho Count agreed with tho little man that, with, clerical manipulators of tho Gallay stamp about, bank® wore risky depositories, but laughed at tho notion of being hard set to find a safe yet accessible hiding-place for money “X make it a rule to keep mine in my trunk,” said he. Tho capitalist objected. “What about burglars?” Bull tho Count had a strategem of his own. Ho took his friend to his room, and showed him his cash-box, shaped exactly like a sardino tin. In fact, it was one, only strengthened and provided with a secret lock. “That is where I keep my money,” said tho Count.“Suppose burglars broke into my room,, can you imagine them taking the trouble to carry off a sardine tin?” Tho cautious capitalist was fascinated by. the idea. If only he had a similar sardine tin. “Why, I havo a spare ono,’ r said tho Count; “if it can bo of any use to you I shall bo -delighted to left you havo it.” Tho cautious ono accepted with effusive thanks, took a cab to tho bank, withdrew his £I,OOO, drove straight back to tho hotel will- tho notes, went up with them to tho Count’s bedroom, and there locked theml up in tlie second sardine box. After: thanking his friend again and again, | ho left with his tin safe under hia arm, making an appointment with tho Count for dinner. Tho hour camo and passed, and no Count appeared. Tho capitalist went to his friend’s room and found it empty. Then ho returned, a. little anxious, to his own, and opened tho sardino tin. It contained three' buttons and some odds and ends of no value whatever. Whilst the Count had been explaining tho mechanism of tho box to his confiding friend he had contrived to effect an exchange, and so possess himself of the £I,OOO.