The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1851-08-13


Tonight must see me in New York."
IF you choose to take it." said the person
who came up last, 81 will give you fifty
dollars for your chance in the reward"
"Fifty dollars" was the musing reply. II
don't know what to say :sout that. The re-
ward will doubtless be two or three hundred.
There can't be less than twenty thousand
dollars in the pocket book"
81 wouldn't like to risk MORE" was the
half indifferent response TO this. -.
The possessor 10 the pocket book seemds
irresolute for some moments.
"Well, |" he at length said, stake it. Bnt
| think you are driving on me a very hard
bargain.p
The other thrust his hand into his pocket,
and after feeling about there for some mo-
ments said
"Thats unfortunate! I've left my pocket
book at The store. But. come with me, and
I'll give you the fifty dollars"
"Where Is your store2"
Ton the wharf"
20 dear! No, Pm not going away down
there" Then turning to Laban Lee, the
stranger said, in the most insinuating man
ner
.Why can't you take it, friend2'
aHavn't got fifty dollars" replied Lee, his
eyes fairly gIoating on the pocket book.
"How much have you?"
''Only thirty
"The man shrugged his shoulders and
shook his head.
YOU'D better come down 10 my store, No.
South Wharves. I'll give you fifty dol
lars. Or, if you will take our friends thirty
dollars, will make it fifty for him. the mo-
ment he shows himself at my place OF bust
ness"
81 suppose will have to do So" said the
holder OF the pocket book, in changed, So
Der, and rather disappointed voice. But
it is giving up large amount for mere trifie.
Eagerly Laban Lee drew forth his thirty
dollars, handed it 10 the man, and graspel
the treasure.
''Come down to No. - South Wharves'
sounded in his ears. A moment after, ant
he stood alone, yet so bewildered that all hi
ideas were in whirl of confusion. Soon q
calmer state followed. He crept into hi'
cart, aid there, safe from prying curiosity
opened the pocket book in order TO feast hi
eyes upon the sum of twenty. thousand dol
lars, and to debate the question Of restoration
Alas! From what height ofiniagnaiioT
down to the bottom of the pit oil reality dit
Laban Lee soon fall. Wrapped around by
three or four one dollar counterfeit bills, wa
a mass OF soiled, crumpled and blot,ed strip
Of bank note paper and thi was all III
tresure contained in the pocket book
No wonder that in his bitter disappoint
ment the farmer groaned aloud. 1t wa
some minutes before even CLEAN OF Ugh
broke in upon the darkness that envelopes
him. Then he thought ofthe man who ha'
: agreed to give fifty dollars for the pocke
book. He would go to him Instantly, an
conceaIng the discovery he had made, &c
from him the promised SUN, and thus shit
the loss upon another.
!, OF course he did not find the individual h
|. sought, at No. = South Wharves. ii
was The victim, and this man an accomP'lce
Two days afterwards, the Post Master @
Lees village said to him
"Ah! So The drop game boys have bee
trying their hand on YOU"
.. "Drop game? What do you mean? 2" re
. turned Lee. t1
"Liste,,." The Post Master drew pape
from his pocket and read. Yesterday
. farmer from New Jersey, named Lee, wa
silly enough 10 pay couple of sharpers thirt
dollars Tor pocket book which they pretend
ed to have found. Ofcourse, this Lee does'u
take the newspapers or he never could hav
fallen into snare that has been so often ex
posed. We have little pity for men who ar
, willully ignorant"
j Laban Lee turned off suddenly ami wake
I; hurriedly away. The next time he went
? the city, he ordereda newspaper.