Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-12-30
A Cunning sleeper.

The following very adroa trick was played in one of the inns of England:
 A gentleman neatly dressed. walked in and pro
 tessed to be tired. Having taken reFreshment, he said he would sleep for ar hour. To sleep he went in very business-hk style, m hts chair, and q long nap he appeared to enjoy. Before Il expired the usual smoke-pipe company began to drop in, and among others two strangers made their appearance. One of the company remarked that 1t was unpleasant to have man sleeping iu public room with valuable property abou, him. such as the sleeper, who had fine looking guard chain displayed with watch m one of his pockets.
 To this remark one of the strangers replied:
 "Pohi that's no genfieman I'm sure; he's more likely one uv them ere swell mob as is always talking of people. I dare say he has no watch al all; but Pn soon see" Suiting the ac- ton the word, the stranger softly drew from the sleeping mans pocket piece of wood, round i and about the size of a watch. "I thought so, sand he; "'thercs pretty watch for you 70 hold
 ing it up that the company might see it. and then returned Il to the owners pocket. By and by the sleeper awoke, and called brisklY br glass of brandy and water. He assumed Quite patroniz ing air 10 the farmers, which soon raEed desire to pat him down Accordingly one of the seniors desired 10 be informed of the time of day. Why" sad the gentleman. the fact IS, he'd drop too
 much last night, and forgot to wind np my watch"
 Just So n' calculated the senior, yoa forgot te
 wind it up did you You'd be puzzled to do that, I should say. wouldn't you, now f' " We'll, slr, you seem 10 take more notice of such trlhe than i there IS any call for; but the truth is have net
 a watch key about me, and mine IS iatheT pc culiar watch" Here burst of laughter enSued.
 and 2 number of jokes were passet about the ! peculiar style of the watch. At laS one Of the company loudly told him he had no watch at all about hun, whefeupon the amazed individual has, ! ty elapped his hand to his waiStcoat pocket, de claring that unless the watch had been stolen
 since he had been in the room, he had one, Sat's- i fed, apparently by the external application 10 his
 pocket he said, It's all right, my watch IS here. l 1 thought you had been playing trick upon me. ."
 "Fll bet you G5 as you've no watch, bawied
 out one of his tormentors.'' Another offered to
 bet him ten pounds, and one of the strangers said he had mt G5, but he had two SoyeteIgIS which he
 would like to double by betting in the same way.
 The awakened sleeper looked al them Tn astonlsh- ment, and asked them if they were Serous. They
 all stuck to 1t he had no watch; and then he tock
 out his purse and produced five and ten pound
 notes to the amount of the bets offered agalnst him.
 The stakes were posted; and then the thourough-
 ly awakened sleeper toolly pulled out the piece or
 wood. at which a hoarSe laugh alose against him.
 but the laughter was soon on the other side, when
 touching spfng in the bit Of wood. it flew open
 and displayed very handsome gold watch snug l ly encaSed within 1t. The gentleman gave
 plausible reason for preferrlng so odd looking case ] for his watch with which hiS dupes might feel
 satisfied Or not. He had received their money to l the amount of Ei0, and they had bought knowl edge of "the time of day" Df course the very
 suggestive strangers lost nothing by the business in fact they accomplices of thSclever star- per.