IN NEW YORK. 307 



But he had his remedy, for did not the auctioneer say that 

 if the watch was not all he represented he would refund the 

 money? We inspected the thing and found its odor as 

 brazen as the face of its late owner; so we went back to 

 the shop, which was almost deserted, the auctioneer and four 

 or five persons being all that remained. One of these, a 

 staid, portly old gentleman, with gold glasses, cane and shiny 

 hat, who said he was a jeweler, asked to see the watch. 



Taking us to one side he said it was worth but a few dollars, 

 and that we would never see the Jersey City man again. My 

 shipmate, in wrath, went to the auctioneer, who had stopped 

 his noise while trouble was impending, and demanded that he 

 should redeem his promise, as the watch was not what he 

 represented it to be. 



" Aha !" said Peter Funk, who was now coming out in his 

 real character, "you won't catch me asleep. I said, 'if ifs not 

 all I represent it.' But I took good care not to represent it at 

 all. So, my friend, you had better keep quiet and leave the 

 store." Our last acquaintance now came forward to our 

 rescue and said : 



" Gentlemen, take my advice ; these rascals have swindled 

 you and you will never get your money back. The best thing 

 you can do is to exchange your watch for a good common 

 silver one, and make no fuss about it. I am a judge of 

 watches and will see that you are not cheated this time. 

 So don't make fools of yourselves again by calling in the 

 police, as no one will believe your story." So here was 

 another " Peter Funk." 



Turning from him we renewed our talk with the auctioneer, 

 who would not notice us. Angry for allowing ourselves to be 

 so duped we, for I was standing by my friend in his trouble, 

 resolved to checkmate the swindlers, even if our stay in the 

 city should be delayed by bringing the matter before a police 

 court ; so, giving the watch into my keeping, my shipmate 



