The actual sufferer has met a congenial spirit, and talks freely. Without realizing it he tells of his business affairs, his financial condition, and similar matters. During all this the steerer makes no suggestion that he should call on Dr. ——. Far from it. He studiously avoids anything of the kind. The bait has been cast and the fish will rise to it of his own accord. Having secured all the information he wants the “steerer” will rise and excuse himself on the ground of an important business engagement. Handing out a neatly engraved card he says: “If you ever come to New York, Mr. ——, I would like to have you hunt me up. I’d stay longer with you this afternoon, but for this pressing engagement.” The card reads about like this: 199 MR. G. ADDINGTON WELLS 1027 Broadway Structural Iron New York City The card is a blind. “G. Addington Wells” is an assumed name. But it sounds well. Your smooth “steerer” never pretends to live in the same city in which he finds his victim. It might be too easy to locate him in case he was wanted. He lives in Chicago, all right, but he assumes the role of an Eastern business man here on business purposes. His appearance, his general “get up,” his talk is all impressive and calculated to beget confidence. That’s his business. He’s a fake all through, even to the nature of the ailment with which he pretends to have been afflicted. He was never seriously ill in his life. But he’s a clever fakir; we must give him credit for that. He’s an artist in his line. There is one man of this kind in Chicago so thoroughly posted in medicine that he can accurately describe the symptoms and characteristics of half a dozen chronic ailments, and in one week has successfully played the role of having entirely recovered from each. If he meets a tabetic sufferer he has been successfully treated for tabes, and will converse intelligently about tabetic conditions. Chronic arthritis, nephritis, paralysis agitans, lateral sclerosis; they are all known to this chap. 200He’s had them all—in his mind—when he wants to impress a sufferer, and he seldom makes a mistake. Almost invariably as the “steerer” is about to leave the sufferer will say: “If I can stand the trip I’ll go down and see this Dr. —— this afternoon. How far is it from here?” “Well, it’s quite a journey for a man in your condition, but I’ll tell you what I’ll do. If you want to go now you can ride in my cab. I’m going that way and I’ll drop you out at the doctor’s. He will see that you get back to the hotel all right.” This suits the sufferer, who is pleased with the attention shown him by the “steerer.” The latter excuses himself for a moment while he “telephones for a cab.” He goes into the telephone booth but, instead of calling for a cab, he rings up the doctor.