HUSTLER'S EXPLOITS.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 September 1904, Page 437

HUSTLER'S EXPLOITS.

A YANKEE IN MAORILAND.

By "QUILL/

t ANTED a journalist, apply AX, 'Star 7 Office." So ran the advertisement in the evening newspaper, (^^ and as I was weary of / the clerical work upon <&§sffl ' which I was then enfjS / gaged, 1 put in an »•■' application for the position. On the Wednesday, two days after 1 had applied, I received a short note, signed by Richard Hustler, asking' me to call at the " Laurels '' at half-past four on the followingday. I was shown into a large room, and the beat of a blazing- fire in the grate felt " <-ocd." It was indeed a wretched day. A southerly gale howled dismally, end every now and then a squall came screaming alom y , brin.ing- with it cold, drenching showers. Hustler greeted me warmly, and then referred to " my " very bad climate. 1 smiled inwardly. It is the usual habit of travellers when anathematising bad weather to refer to it in this possessive way. Whilst Hustler was commenting 1 upon the peculiarities of my climate, I took the opportunity of carefully observing him. He was an American, and spoke with all the confidence and force so characteristic of that civilisation. His voice was strong- and resonant, which bespoke abundance of vitality ; whilst the broad shoulders and massive body proclaimed him to be a man of immense strength. The cleanshaven face with its heavy underjaw, and the large and rather sensuous mouth gave power if not refinement in his face. In short, here

was a man who never would be cornered. We soon came to terms. The story of the rise and progress of Rutland, one of the leading cities in New Zealand, required to be written optimistically. " The good people here," Hustler said, " are modest, and I want you to describe the principal commercial undertakings in a flattering manner." The " copy " was required for a book he intended publishing, to be entitled the " Rise and Progress of Rutland." 1 left the warm room, pondering as to what his dodge might be. I felt that there was deception somewhere, and I did not like it. However, I reflected that after all it was no business of mine. All 1 had to do was to write to order. 1 toiled away and posted my articles regularly, but as for the payments, they at last became so irregular, that I was obliged to withhold the "copy" until arrears had been settled. One day, whilst hurrying through Queer Street, I was greeted by a hearty " good morning " from a hansom cab, which almost dashed on to the pavement at my side. The next moment Hustler was shaking hands with me, and begging me to cross over with him to

the Imperial Hotel as he wished to speak to me privately. The man was evidently agitated.

" Look here," lie commenced, holding up for my inspection twenty or thirty orders, signed "by the prominent merchants of Rutland, for £50 and upwards, lor the rniblication of the articles I had written. I waited for an explanation, marvelling at the same time at his power

in persuading our citizens to unclench their tight fists mi this liberal manner. " Those are worth/ he continued, " nearly £1500, and yet I am absolutely broke. All that lot will be useless, unless you will agree to help me out. Write your articles/ he pleaded, " and give me credit. Upon publication I will add twenty per cent, to your account for the accommodation."

I was on the point of saying " Yes/ when a messenger brought in a telegram. Bustler turned deadly white on reading it. He begged me to excuse him until he had replied to the urgent wire. I strolled along the corridor, and passed two men, deeply engaged in conversation, I overheard the taller of the two say something that almost made me stop.

" I saw him showing the writing gent a number of orders/ 5 lie whispered clearly, " but we must not run him to earth before that little lot of paper matures. It's cash I want, not his imprisonment, you know how he had me at New York."

Upon my return to Hustler, I said "No" to his request. He pleaded and urged me to do the work, and it was now that I felt the power of the man. The strength of his determination to obtain a favourable answer amounted almost to mesmeric force, and I no longer wondered why the business men had been so open-handed with him. At last I gave in and said " Yes."

I now determined to watch Hustler, and learn all I could concerning him. He was evidently making heaps of , and as a canvasser his brilliant methods were worthy of a war correspondent' si description. I cannot hope to do it justice.

On a 'bright Spring day, a cab was drawn up with, a clatter which made the clerks bob up from their seats, and look through the windows of D. L. Hilton's to see if a collision had occurred. It was the arrival of Hustler. He was out of the cab with a bound, and the next moment ordering the office boy to

tell Mr. Huton that Mr. Hustler would like to see him immediately on an urgent matter of business. He paced up and down in front of the public counter. The clerks whispered : " Who the dickens is he V "Is it the Admiral ?" " Some relation of Bigham's, I should say \" declared another.

Hustler was as fresh as paint. His glistening belltopper, black walking coat and lavender trousers, would have done credit to a Bond Street swell. And as he looked somewhat imperiously through his gold-rim-med spectacles, and squeezed his withdrawn gloves, the curious clerks felt convinced that he had at least come to knight Mr. D. L. Huton.

The office boy returned and conducted Mr. Hustler to Mr. Huton's private office. Mr. Hut on was much impressed by his visitor's appearance, shook hands with all his little might, and begged effusively if he could be of any service. Hustler raised his chest, cleared his throat, and looked the little merchant squarely in the face, then outpoured his scheme. To give a faithful account of Rutland's rise and progress ; to give the history of the colonising martyrs ; to tell of their early struggles ; and in particular of Mr. Huton's father's trials and hardships, and the glorious result — Rutland itself. That, Hustler declared, was his bounden duty. The merchant was fairly galvanised, and his pride for himself and his forefathers made him confidential. He told Hustler about his race-horses ; his special blend of whiskey, and his enterprise in developing the coal and gold mines of Rutland.

Hustler then read the article he purposed publishing, and if there was any point that seemed to inflate Mr. Huton's vanity, he drew on his imagination and exaggerated it.

Huton was ready to weep with delight when Hustler finished reading the article. He expressed his gratitude in no measured terms. Hustler looked at, him wi±k gene-

roiis'-eyes, and with an air of magnanimity he placed a filled-in order for £55 before Mr. Huton, and begged of him as a mere matter of detail to affix his signature. "Fm sure/ he added, "it does you credit to show such enterprise in supporting a work of this , highclass character. " Yes ! Yes !" muttered Huton as he signed, in a tone that seemed to suggest that Hustler had given him credit for more enterprise than he possessed. But the hearty handshake of Hustler -made him temporarily forget he had been a fool. Half an hour after the office boy was asked what the devil he meant by showing people into' Huton.' s private office before ascertaining their business. Hustler entered his cab with all the style of a fashionable doctor, and bade the driver take him to Edwards, the music dealers. Hustler rubbed his chin meditatively as they spun along. Suddenly he spied Mr. Salamander, the fresh food and vegetable man, standing , in the centre of the road with hands outstretched, almost barring the cab's progress. - "Drive like blazes, Bob!" he cried. . " That beast wants a cheque/ he muttered. Bob ' whipped the horse up, and they fairly Jflew past the astonished Mr. Salamander. Hustler stared straight in front of him. Intimacy , with impatient creditors was not ■ his weakness. Then just as they, were reaching Mr. Edward's place, , he told Bob, in a .voice of honey, to go round to Mr. Salamander's, get five shillings worth . of asparagus, two" pairs of fowls andjducks, and a turkey, besides fish for his lunch, and to explain, with Mr. Hustler's compliments, that he left his cheque book at home, but would call in tomorrow and pay the small account (it was only £15). Mr. Edwards was now receiving Hustler's hospitality. Edwards, however, was a nervous man. He was a creature who, wanted to ask. , his wife firsts Hustler said he wouid

be only too pleased to drive round in the evening. He asked Mr. Edwards when they were married, what Sunday, School his wife taught before the * happy day, and if she was still a member of the choir ? Then the children came. Freddie had' won a scholarship, and Ethel was head of the Wesley Latin class. All this information appeared in the article when it was read to Mrs. Edwards. An order was signed for £20. - - But evil days fell on Hustler. He had agreed to take the half of £50 " out/ from a wine and spirit merchant's house. For a fortnight he was in another world. His bright clothes were all soiled, and he no longer looked the splendid,, radiant, Bond Street swell. He was very low-spirited, andjby, the aid of half a bottle of whiskey he raised his weary head. Bob took his clothes to a cleaner, whilst Hustler stayed in bed awaiting their return. His second suit was in pawn, his jewellery -was there too. Once more the '-cab rolled out with Hustler almost his old- self. A Turkish bath and two whiskies and soda made him feel solid, and as he strode into Smirk and Sage's, the drapers, he felt he, was bound to win. He received -their order for ' £50, and on the strength of his " front/- he obtained goods to the value of~ £25. Although the firm paid up " fair and square/ to use the language of Hustler, Smirk and S age "were subsequently plaintiffs in a debt case, and Hustler was the defendant. The- grocerman was sick of it. He'd stand no more blooming nonsense. He'd just been driven past too often, and it was a summons or cash' for him. He -told Hustler this in his best mustard and pepper style. Hustler resorted to one of his last tactics. He wept. The tears streamed down his fat cheeks. The grocer gave him another week. Publishing day had at - last arrived, and upon the delivery -of the. books I knew would be

able to collect all moneys due^ "I was therefore on hand to protect my own interests. I found the publisher's men placing, the books in a four-wheeler which was closed in. The agent of a well-known money lending institution was superintending operations. At this,, juncture another cabman drove up with Hustler, and I quickly recognised from his annoyed manner that he considered he had been outwitted. He begged and pressed the agent to allow the books to be placed in his cab; but Mr. .Jew, who looked suspiciously at the cabman, absolutely declined to do so. I overheard the cabman saying to a companion, "If I. get hold of the books, not a devil of a one will anyone get until my account for £50 has 'been squared." Then I ascertained that the Jew had advanced the necessary money for publication, and I began to feel I had been an ass. A little army of butchers, bakers, grocers, milkmen, house agents, and one or two females, who looked like servants, watched the proceedings anxiously. I went into a solicitor's and asked for an urgent summons. to be taken out against Hustler. It struck me that the pickings would be very small by the time all accounts were paid, but I had the satisfaction of • seeing a policeman give my little document to Hustler. Friday, .the hearing day, arrived, and the Court seemed quite full of the onlookers who were at the Hercules printing office on publishingday. . There was great excitement. It. became evident that Hustler had about £900 after the financial lending house had- been paid, and we all felt quite hopeful - a/bout our accounts. I saw the man who talked

so mysteriously at the Hotel when Hustler was asking, for credit. "Yes, sir/ he said, when I addressed him, " Mr. Hustler owesi me £150. Be gave me the slip at New York, and as I happened to be passing through Rutland and saw our dear friend driving round in his usual style, I decided to stay here and collect' my little amount. Thanks to the aid of a detective, Hustler has been very carefully watched. For three days we've kept our eye on him, and I've -just received a message from Ned Burra that Hustler is not yet up. He'll have a policeman to dress him this morning, if he's not here pretty soon." When the Case came on, there was no answer to Hustler's name. On the application of one of the lawyers, the cases were adjourned, and under the circumstances, which the Magistrate considered serious, a policeman was despatched to Hustler's residence, . and we waited anxiously for his return. But we waited in vain, for events proved that we'd all been most wofully outwitted. Hustler had disappeared. " There is absolutely no trace of the gentleman," was the policeman's report. 'We trooped mournfully out of the Court, and talked sympathetically to anyone who would listen " to our tale of woe. Three months * after, Hustler was gracious enough to write to me, and explain. how he did it. One of the creditors was squared. A passage was taken in the barque "Kate Mavoureen " for New York ; and the difficulty of evading the detective- was overcome by cutting a hole in a brick wall at the back of the house, and this exit enabled the cute. American to escape.