Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-06-03
THE DEVIL OUTWITTED !;
A NEW ATTEMPT AT SWIND-
I TkJ(N

LING.
The following very fngular tranfatiion
actually occurred ina village, not many
miles dilfance from Bottom. A fogle
Gentleman, who had comfortable guam
/ TRY Of ipecie, and who had been in the
habit Of accommodating his neighbors
with loans Of money, few day Gnce,
had received a payment 60 The amount OF
elgbt buudred dollars, and late in the
evening was returning home, when he
was accuHoned by a being, whole ex.
ternal habiliments, it feems fuggeaed to
his imagination me exact Gmilitude Of the
DeqiI, Z, who boldly demanded CHIN, the
fum Of oas f5ou(aad dollars. Terrified at
this abrupt and fearful interview, the ge-
ntleinan told him he had no, tllatsf by
him. The frange perlonage replied, tina,
be knew he had it, and that he muf let
him have it Immediately the gentleman
then told him that he had but eight hun
dred dollars by him, but that if be would
give him time, be would procure the re-
nairder Of the fem required. The devil
accordingly took his word, and appointed
the next evening al the hour of ten to
meet him at his own hou(e, and threaten
ed, that unlels he then fulfilled his pro-
mife be would carry him eff. AT the
fame time, enjoining the mott profound
fecrecy as TO this and their future inter
views. Not having the remainder the
money on hard, the gentleman was oblig-
ed to borrow the deficiency. The man
to whom he applied knowing his circum
frances, expreiicd his furprize at the re-
quea, particularly as it feemrd to be of
the mott urgent nature; and as the gen
tlemsn appeared extremely agifated and
anxious. He according deGred to know
the reafon OF his application.
The gentleman immediately replied it
was Of The u,moR coniequence, and that
he hould be ruined forever, unlef; he
coult1 procure it. Hrs friend told him he
had the fun he wanted, bot that he could
accommodate him on no other condition,
but that OF knowing the ufe to which he
would apply it. In this dilemma he wife
iy concluded, of two evils TO chufe The
leaf, fuppohng that if the efen5ia part
of his engagement was punttually compli
ed with, the devil would be civil enough
to ablolve him from the promife OF iecre-
cy. He accordingly, 10 very ferrous
manner, difcloled the whole tranlactions
OF the preceding evening. His frien3
then gave him the money, with permiih
on, however, to bepreient at this fngu-
lar interview. He accordingly fecreted
himfelf, with loaded piitol, in little
cloief in the room and at the hour ap-
pointed, this chief of Pandemouium pune
tually appeared to receive his money. AT
this inaant, the man in the clolct topped
out, and prefenting pifol to his breat,
demanded who he was, and threatened to
fire, unleis he Immediately 'diyetfcd him
felf of his fate robes of darknels. Con-
founded at this unexpected rencounte,, the
Poor Devil loft all Supernatural agency
he was compelled TO lay aide his Crown
of horns and Cloven foot; and food ex-
poled near neighbours Of both parties, de-
tetfed in this angular fchemc of plumber.
II feems this man, knowing the day be-
fore that his neighbour was TO receive
large fun Of money, conceived this plan
to impofe on his fuperfition and credulity,
and rob him of one thoufand dollars. In |
this in9sncc The Devil was completely |
outwitted, and by overlooking the eight |
hundred dollars, which he might proba-
bly, have ia this manner fecured, TO obtain
a thouand, he loft all !; and is now ac-
commodated with lodings in a pandemo- |
Mum little more agreeable than that |
where, it is fsid, the character which he !
meant TO perfonify, re6des. |
B9fu Gaz.