The FBI in Peace and War - The Inside Track

In the course of sixty five adventurous years, Philip O'Donnell spent a good portion of this time in jail for swindles of various kinds. He was a handsome man with an ability to falsely display solid character and respectability. His hunting grounds for the swindles were the commuting trains to and from large cities. Meanwhile, at the home of Stanley and Hazel Teller, a letter is received by special delivery. Hazel signs for it at their front door. Stanley asks "What was it, dear? She says "A special delivery letter for you. Who do you know in Pittsburgh?" He says "Nobody". She says "It's from the Federal Steel Company. Is that one of your clients? Maybe they want to buy some advertising". Upon opening the letter, Stanley says "It's a check for a dollar and 72 cents, from the office of the Vice President of the Federal Steel Company". Hazel asks "Whatever for, Stanley? Tell me what it is all about". He says "Well, it happened four days ago on 5:20 train. This nice looking old man sat next to me. When the conductor came around, the old man had lost his ticket and his wallet, so I offered to pay his fare". Hazel asks "Is that all?" Stanley says "That's all. Of course, I didn't realize that he was an executive at Federal Steel. He also said that he's going to be in the city on the 19th and he would be pleased if we could have dinner with him and go to the theater in appreciation of my kindness". A few weeks later, Philip O'Donnell, having entertained his victims at the theater several times and sent numerous small presents to the wife, eventually allowed himself to be invited to their home for occasional dinners. At one of the dinners, he asks Stanley "Do you invest at all in the stock market?" Stanley says "A little now and then". O'Donnell says "I'm going to tell you something, but I must ask you to keep it in the strictest confidence. Federal Steel will shortly announce a new issue of common stock. It will be offered for ten dollars a share. Now, I can buy some of that stock for you at seven dollars before the issue is made public".