The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-20 00:00:00

A CUNNING LANDLORD OUTWITTED.
On Thursday, the 21st instant, Mr. John Scott, the
landlord of the George Hotel, &lepton Mallet, accom-
panied by Mr. Jas. Welch, the jolly Boniface of the
White Lion, in the same place, proceeded to Priddy
Fair, to see and be seen. On arriving at their destina-
tion, Mr. Welch (with a lendable anxiety for the pro-
tection of his brother chip of the George) consigned
Mr. Scott to the care of a farmer in the village, and left
him regaling himself with good roast beef, " hot -reeking
from the spit" in a neighbouring booth, with strict in-
junctions to remain at his quarters, and not fall into the
company of the " sharpers," who are generally so plen-
tiful at fairs. Whether or not the abundance of roast
beef, or the potations he indulged in, caused him to
slight the warnings of his friend, is unknown, but
shortly after the Welchmstn had left the " cannie Scott"
so comfortably situated, the latter proceeded into the
thickest of the fair, and soon found himself amongst a
bustling throng of horse dealers. He was presently
accosted by a person of respectable exterior, who, after
a little preliminary chat, stated that ho was very desi-
rous of purchasing a horse of a friend, but that the said
friend had refused to sell it to him for his word's sake;
and, of course, as a gentleman his word was his bond, he
was bound in honour to keep it. Under these circum-
stances, v:oald Mr. Scott kindly do him a favour—just a
leetle favour; and exhibiting a bag of what appeared to
be sovereigns, the insinuating stranger suggested that
Mr. Scott should go to his friend, and purchase the
horse for 251., promising that, if ho could effect the pur-
chase, he should be rewarded with a sovereign and a
bottle of wine for his trouble. Who could resist so
groat a temptation? The cunning old landlord did not
attempt it; he at once seized the bait, posted off to the
" gentleman" with the horse, and off.ired 25/. for it,
which was immediately accepted. And now came the
payment. The " distinguished stranger," who was so
anxious to possess the horse, had forgotten to give Mr.
Scott the money to pay for it; but that gentleman, ge-
nerously changing a cheque which he had in his pocket,
handed over the 25/. to the dealer, and having thus
faithfully executed his commission, proceeded in search
of the stranger, his sovereign, and the bottle of wine!
But here he was doomed to suffer disappointment. His
jolly red countenance, which had beamed with additional
joy at the prospect of making so easy a morning's work,
became o'ereloudcd with " Dreary doubts, forebodings,
and dismay." The bird had flown ; he sought and
sought in vain, the " distinguished stranger" was non e.st
inventui, and Mr. Scott discovered, when too late, that
he had been made the victim of a very stale trick, having
bought, as a bargain, for 251., a glandered, broken-
winded eteed, which he subsequently disposed of for
thirty shillings. How this notoriously " wide awake"
landlord came to be so easily duped 1.; a mystery to his
friends, and they can only account for his folly from the
knowledge of the fact that the bright black eyes of a
pretty gipsey girl looked languishingly on him, when
rho entreated him to " buy the horse for the gentleman."
—Bristol Mirror.