Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1869-12-09
THE MYSTERIOUS JOKER.


ting on nail kegs and counter
smoking yillainous tobacco, and ex
pectorating in every direction.
And then there entered a sedatC
individual with q countenance min
isterial, in its gravity, and with {
short coat in which were side pock
cts. lie leaned over the counter
for some article, and gave his
whole soul to its examination.
Then entered another person, al.
so a stranger. lie was young,
sprightly and jolly His counte.
nance was brimming with humor
He greeted the crowd with a jolly
show are hosses" in a way that at
once prepossessod every hawbuck
in his favor.
4e was restless as a monkey
Fisrt he begged a qlid. Then he
took the plug and .iack,knife and
tossed them over and under, catch
ing and throwing them with one
hand. Then he made a smutty re
mark or two; and, by this time, he
was the observed Of all the crowd.
Except one, The ministerial
gentleman who was leaning over
the counter gave no sign. He
never once looked around.
The jolly youth caught sight Of
the grave man, and gazed at him
with a quizzical expression. Then
he picked up a piece Of paper,
and in pantomine, pinned it on the
tail of the grave mans coat
Whereat, there was much sup
pressed horse laughing in the
crowd.
And now the young Joker spied
a little piece Of white strlrg hang
ing from the pocket of the other
Approaching him on tip,toc, with
many n wink to the rustics, he
took hold Of the string and careful
ly drew it forth. With it came
little parcel wrapped in twine.
Swiftly the joker unwound the
twine and a covering Of white a
per. Inside was a common bnsi-
ness card folded together through
the middle. Within it laid a three
cent piece. This the joker, with a
grin, handed to a by-stander, then
quickly relolded the little parcel,
and replaced it in the others pock-
ct.
And now tbej joke was getting so
broad and funny that many of the
hilarious spectators were tickled
nigh into commissions. Finally,
attracted by the laughter, the grave
man looked around. He found
himselfthe center of all eyes. He
was confused. He thrust his hands
behind. He glanced over his per
son. Then he put his hands in his
pockets, and Withdrawing them,
there came out--accidentally of
course--the little parcel 1t fell to
the floor. He stopped and picked
it up.
"What You cot done ND so well !?
the joker, with smile at
his grinning auditory
"Oh, nothing" answered Gravity,
confusedly,
Nothing? A heap of pains you
take to wrap up nothing!'
"Well, then, if you must know, |
have got three cent silver piece
in there, which l wrapped up for
my little boy"
"a three cent piece! Haw! haw
haw!" said the joker, and haw
haw ! haw!" said the crowd.
"Ycs, sir, a three cent piece, up
on my honor" and he was about to
put it back in his pocket.
Hold on, mister said the 9th
er, "you can't play that, you know
I'll just bet my life, you han't got
any three cent piece in that par
cell"
"Young man, you are fool, and
III just teach you lesson l don't
bet, as a general thing, but I'll bet
You 800 that there is a three-cent
piece in that paper"
"I'm your man." said the joker,
He pulled out his wallet and count
ed out SIS. "Sce here" said he,
1--WE only got SIS; I'll just bet
you that"
"a hundred dollars or nothing"
said the other, as he laid out five
$40 bills on the counter.
The joker was nonplussed. Then
a bright idea struck him. He turn
ed to the crowd. "Say, boys, let's
pool in and make up a hundreds land
then divide. Serve him right to
beat him.
The boys pulled their pocket
books. A fire here and a ten there
soon swcllcd the Sl5 to 800. The
Joker held the stakes. And then
the serious man undid the parcel
He opened the folded card. One
corner oft was split, and within
the split was a three cent-piece.
The joker handed over the stakes
and left in disgust A moment la
ter, the other followed him.
And a solemnity like unto that
of sad funeral fell upon the faces
of the assembly.
For several days after, two gen
tlemed from Chicago enjoyed them
selves. They belonged to the or
Ter of confidence men, and they |
we're in funds. They had just re-
urned from a six hours trip into |
he country.
- Slander kills threefold-him
hat utters, him that is attacked, and |
lin that hearkens.