The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-12-02
The Mysterious Joker.

Not long since the writer was sitting
one evening, in country store not far
from Chicago. e There was the usual
crowd Of town and country folks 1oafing
around. sitting on nall kegs and the coun
ter smoking villainous tobacco, and ex-
pettorating in every direction.
And then there entered a sedate In Ill
vidual, with countenance ministerial in
lts:gravity, and with. short coat in
which were side pockets He leaned over
the counter called for some article, @and
gave his whole soul to its examination.
Then entered another person, also
stranger. He was young, sprightly and
Jolly. His ScountenAnce was trimming
with, humor.s He, greeted the crowd with
jolly :" How are you, HOSES !'' IN a way
that, at once, prepossessed every hawbuckk
in his favor. ~ fad5 larsas2 ri oiIdHq aat
He was restless as monkey. First he
begged guild. Then he took the plug
and jack knife and tossed them over and
under, catching and throwing them with
one hand Then he made "a smutty
remark or two; and, by : this
time, he was the observed of all the
crowd. 4EFbs TeET&8 POS EE AG
! Except one. The ministerial gentle
man who was leaning over the counter
gave no sign.a He never once looked
around. p f75 8 q alse 9d iie ,ssJf 25oz3 .
The jolly youth caught sight of the
grave man, and gazed at him with quiz
zical expression. Then he picked up a
pieceAof paper and in a pantomime, pin
ned it on the tail of the grave mans coat
Whereat therewas much suppressed horse
laughing in the crowd.
rs And now the young joker spied aElittle
piece of white string hanging from the
pocket, of the. other. Approaching him
on tip toe, with many a wink to the rus
tics, he took hold of the string and
carefully drew it forth: With it
came little parcel wrapped in Irvine.
iF2 Swiftly the joker unwonnd the Irvine
and q covering of white paper. Inside
was common business card folded togeth-
.er through the middle. Within it laid a
three cent piece This the joker, with a
grin, handed To- a by-stander, then
quickly refolded the little parcel, and re-
placed il. in the others pocket.
And now the joke was getting SO broad
and funny that many of the hilarious
spectators were tickled nigh into convul-
sions. Finally attracted by the laughter
the grave man looked around. He found
himself the centre of all eyes. He was
confused He thrust his hands behind
him. He glanced over his person. Then
he put his hands in his pockets, and in
withdrawing them, there came out-quite
accidentally of course the little parcel.
1t fell to the floor. He stopped and pick
ed itup.
"What you got done up SO well?" In
quired the joker, with smile at his grin
ming auditory. r
'sOh, nothing" answered Gravity, con-
4Nothings A heap of pains you take
to,wrap up nothing J"
HWell, then, if you must know, 7 have
a three cent silver piece in there, which
wrapped up for my little boy"
"a three cent piecel Haw haw
haw /" said the joker, and "Haw haw
haw !" said the crowd.
| eyes sir, three cent piece, upon my
honor" and he was about to put it back
in his pocket.
Hold on Mister" said the other, "you
cant play that, youaknow!5i I'll just bet
my life, you haint got no three cent piece
III Illtt pdICcl.
"Young man, you're fool, and I'll just
teach. you, a lesson. I don't bet, as gen
eral thing, but I'll bet you 500 that
there is three ceut piece in that paper"
"Pm your man." said the joker. He
pulled out his walletand counted out SIS
See here" said he, I've only got $15
| I'll just bet you that"
San 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 turned to
the crow d. s1Say, boys, let's pool in and
make up hundred, and then divide.
Serve him right to beat him"
The boys pulled their pocket-books
Alive here and ten there soon swelled
the $15 to. 800. r The joker held the
stakes. And then the serious man undid
the parcel He opened the folded card,
One corner Of it was split, and within the
split was three cent piece
The joker handed over the stakes, and
left IN disgust. A moment later the 9TH
er followed. And a solemnity like unto
that of sad funeral fell upon the faces of
the assembly. TfaTT99. rE0a mn rrarrey
For several days after, two gentlemen
from Chicago enjoyed themselves. They
belong to the order of confidence men,
and they were in funds. They had just
returned from six-hours trip into the
county. - Poziuto, IN Chicago Sunday
Times.
The Government is getting ready
to look carefully into the question
Of a ship-canal to connect the Allan
tic and Pacific Oceans. The steam
er Nipsic is now fitting at the Wash