IN NEW YORK. 305 



their attacks. At the gullibility of " Peter Funk's " victims 

 we had marveled much. 



During a promenade on the Battery — where we had seen 

 the pocket-book dropping and other games played with 

 mingled feelings of pity and contempt for the victims, and 

 with much respect for our ability to withstand the seductive 

 wiles of New York sharpers — we took a stroll up Broadway. 

 When opposite the City Park our attention was arrested by 

 the loud cries of an auctioneer who was selling watches at a 

 great sacrifice. 



" Here," I said to my friend, " is a ' Peter Funk ' shop in 

 full blast. Let us go in and see how the simple-minded 

 country people are swindled." 



My remark was overheard by a man standing at my elbow, 

 and a remarkably honest-looking person he was, too. 



" You are mistaken, sir," said the latter. " The Peter Funks 

 have all been cleaned out by the police. These gentlemen 

 do a perfectly legitimate business." 



This, of course, was sufficient. It would not do to impugn 

 the motives of a man like our informant. His whole manner 

 betokened what is known as God's noblest work. His gray 

 hairs, his mild eyes, his general appearance stamped him as 

 a man of probit}^ 



The bidding, now that our attention was drawn towards 

 the shop, grew fiercer and louder. Watches were rapidly 

 knocked off* to innocent-looking gentlemen who had a mania 

 for them. They seemed a good thing which they could 

 not get enough of. Our new-found friend at last caught the 

 infection and made spirited bids at what the auctioneer 

 called " a splendid, full-jeweled, gold hunting watch," one of 

 an imported lot which had just been sold at a great sacrifice 

 by the custom-house officials to pay duties. Our man soon 

 ran it up to twenty dollars, at which price he got it. He then 

 went up to the clerk to pay for it, but could only raise fifteen 



