_THE JEWELRY FAKIR._
Teddy's curiosity regarding the kind of business which Hazelton proposed
to do was so great that, for the time being, he forgot his own venture
in watching this supposed friend.
The jewelry fakir disappeared amid the crowd for a few moments,
reappearing in a carriage drawn by a fancifully decorated horse, and the
gaudy trappings caused the sightseers to stop, believing something
interesting or curious was to be seen.
Hazelton introduced himself as an agent for a large manufacturing
company, and proposed to dispose of "samples" of their goods in a manner
which would be satisfactory to all. He began by throwing away great
numbers of cheap rings made to imitate gold, and as the boys scrambled
for them he complained that the older members of the throng--those
people whom he particularly wished should test the merits of his
wares--were getting nothing.
"I can change that," he said, after hesitating a moment, as if to devise
some plan. Then holding up half a dozen pairs of cuff-buttons, he
continued: "I am allowed to give away only six of these. What gentleman
will advance twenty-five cents for one of these sets, knowing the money
will be returned to him? By that means I shall place the goods where
they will do the most good."
In a short time the necessary number of purchasers was found, each
having paid a quarter of a dollar, and then, with great ostentation, the
fakir returned to every one the money he had given.
A similar performance was gone through with in the case of ten seal
rings, and by that time the crowd were in a state of high excitement,
for they were getting supposedly valuable goods by simply loaning this
agent their money for a short time.
The fakir then held up a lot of watch-chains, asking who would give him
a dollar for one, but in this instance he made no mention of returning
the money.
Believing these also were to be given away, every man scrambled to pass
up his dollar before the supply should be exhausted, and fully two
hundred dollars was taken in by the generous "agent." Then, as the
demand ceased, Hazelton produced from his valise what appeared to be a
heavy gold watch.
Wrapping it in paper, and attaching it to a chain, he cried:
"Who wants to take another, and receive as a present what I have
fastened to the end of it; but on the condition that this paper shall
not be removed until I give permission?"
A young fellow standing near Teddy made all possible haste to pass the
fakir a dollar and receive the prize.
Then the remainder of the crowd clamored for more to be put up in the
same manner, and Hazelton disposed of at least a hundred before the
clamorous throng could be appeased.
While this was being done Teddy saw the young fellow slyly remove the
paper and examine his goods. A look of anger and disappointment
overspread his face as a cheap, empty locket, fashioned on the outside
something like the case of a watch, was revealed to view. Twenty cents
would have been an extravagantly high price for what he had paid a
dollar; but it was possible the agent would return the money as he had
done in the previous cases, and the victimized fellow held his peace.
Hazelton was now ready to take a hurried departure. No more dollars were
passed up, and quickly seizing the reins, he said:
"I have not represented these goods to be gold; but they are a fine
imitation, and Mr. Nathan Hargreaves, of Peach Bottom Run, will probably
act as my agent for the sale of them. You can get what may be wanted
from him if you need any more."
The last words were hardly spoken before he drove quickly through the
throng, leaving his dupes in a daze, from which they did not recover
until he was lost to view.
Now Teddy understood what the "Give-Away" game was, and he also knew
that it was far from being honest, although Hazelton had really made no
promises which he did not fulfill.
Some of the victims were angry, and vowed to flog "that feller within an
inch of his life" before sunset; others bore their loss philosophically,
and turned away with the remark that the fakir was "a cute one," while
the majority hastened off lest they should be suspected of being
victims.
Teddy returned to his cane-board feeling sad because he had been so
mistaken in this particular man, and had hardly reached there when
Hazelton, on foot, came from the side of the fair grounds opposite where
he had disappeared, saying hurriedly, as he handed the boy a black
satchel somewhat resembling a sample case:
"Look out for this! All my money is in it."
Without waiting for an answer the man was gone, and the young fakir was
in no slight distress at being the custodian of so much wealth.
After considerable discussion with Tim he decided to leave it behind the
cane-board where it would be screened from view, and then a crowd of
customers suddenly appearing, he was so busy during the next half hour
that he hardly had time to think of that which had been intrusted to his
keeping.
Not until trade grew dull once more did Hazelton appear, looking
decidedly well pleased with himself, and, standing where the passers-by
could not hear, he asked:
"Well, what do you think of the give-away game now?"
"It looks to me like a swindle," Teddy replied, bluntly. "The things you
sold were not worth half what you got for them."
"Six cents apiece for the chains, and five for the lockets is what I pay
by the quantity," the fakir said, with a laugh.
"But you made the people think they were getting real watches."
"I was mighty careful to say nothing of the kind. They thought they saw
a watch, and I told them I would make each purchaser a present of what
was on the chain. Their idea was to get the best of me, and in that I
didn't lose very much. It's a case of setting a thief to catch a thief,
and the smartest man comes out ahead."
"But why did you leave all the money with me?"
"Because it sometimes happens that my customers make a kick, and try to
get back their stuff by force, so I don't carry much cash in my pockets
while I am on the fair grounds."
"Of course you are all through now. You can't expect to do the same
thing over again."
"That's exactly what I shall do in about an hour, only in a different
portion of the inclosure, and you'll see that I can catch just as many
suckers as before."
Then, in order to be rid of the satchel, for it seemed as if he was
really concerned in the swindle so long as it remained in his keeping,
Teddy said he wanted to see what Dan and Sam were doing.
"Go ahead; I'll stay near by where I can keep an eye on the stuff, so
you needn't let that worry you."
As a matter of fact, the boy was not eager to leave his place of
business; but having said so, it was necessary to go, or let Hazelton
understand exactly why the remark had been made.
Cautioning Tim to "keep his eyes open for trade," he walked across the
grounds to the building where Dan was employed, and found that young
gentleman displaying the good qualities of a peculiar-looking weapon.
"This is the Model Pocket Rifle," Dan was saying to a party of
gentlemen. "The shoulder-rest is detachable, and you can buy an
effective weapon for a trifle over fifteen dollars, as---- Hello, Teddy,
how's business?" he added, suddenly, on observing his friend, and the
two had an opportunity for conversation, while the curious ones were
examining the rifle.
Teddy gave a brief account of what had already been done, and then
asked:
"Can't you get off a few minutes and go with me to see what Sam is
doing?"
It was not difficult for Dan to get a short leave of absence, and the
two went directly to the creek where their acquaintance, who proposed to
make himself the central figure of the fair, was rowing around in a
jaunty looking craft.
Sam wore a sailor's shirt, turned away at the throat, and tied with a
black silk handkerchief, while on the breast of the garment was worked
the name "Davis Boat and Oar Co., Detroit, Mich." The same legend being
printed in gold on the band of his straw hat.
Sam had evidently been expecting his friends, for he espied them before
they reached the shore, and, rowing to the bank, insisted they should
take a sail.
"Come on, it's all right," he said. "It don't make any difference
whether I carry passengers or not so long as the boat is kept goin', an'
I want to show you somethin' fine in the way of rowin'."
Neither of the boys cared very much about accepting the invitation; but
he was so persistent that they finally stepped on board as the easiest
manner of settling the matter.
"I tell you what it is, fellers," he said, as he pulled out into the
stream, "I'm jest makin' things hum around here. These folks have never
seen any kind of style put into rowin', an' I'm knockin' their eyes
out."
"Don't give it to them too strong, or they may want to keep you here as
an ornament after the fair closes, and then the rest of the world would
suffer," Dan said, with a laugh, and Sam replied:
"You fellers can make fun; but what I say is straight," and then he made
preparations for giving an exhibition. "Watch me now, an' you'll learn a
thing or two about boats."
During the next ten minutes he pulled as if in a race, first up and then
down the stream, until sheer lack of breath forced him to stop.
"I hope you haven't set the keel on fire," Dan said, solicitously.
"There's no question but that you made good time, though I'm inclined to
think the build of the boat had considerable to do with the speed. This
one looks as if she would row herself."
"That's all you know about it. If I hadn't been a first-class hand
at----"
"See there!" Teddy cried, excitedly, as he pointed toward the shore.
"That's the man who got my fifteen dollars. Pull in, Sam, an' pull for
all you are worth!"
The oarsman delayed only long enough to gaze in the direction indicated,
where he saw the old fakir whom they had met with such great loss at
Waterville, and then he bent himself to the task.
"Do you believe it will be safe to tackle him after last night?" Dan
asked.
"I'm going to, and if he don't get away from me I'll ask some of the
crowd to help me have him arrested," Teddy replied, grimly.
The little craft was a considerable distance from the shore. Sam was so
excited that he only thought of landing in the shortest possible space
of time, and instead of keeping a lookout for other boats, rowed
vigorously, as if he were the only oarsman on the stream.
Teddy and Dan sat motionless, with their eyes fixed on the man, and thus
it happened that no one on board saw a double ender, in which were three
ladies and two gentlemen, come around a bend in the creek directly in
Sam's course.
There was a shout from the bank, three shrill screams of terror, and
then a crash as the two craft came together with terrific force.
The occupants of both boats were thrown into the water as the frail
timbers were splintered, and the spectators on the bank acted as if
panic-stricken.