The Van Buren press., 1872-10-15
4" Three Keerd Monkey.
4 Story (Pro6aby Lie) Of Canada
BiH and Il California; hnrter.
-rrom tho omaha Disnatch ]


California Bill has had another exploit
few months ago. as is well known by
several gentlemen, Bill offered a certain
railroad one thousand dollars month
Tor the privilege Of working trains,
in the three card monte business. lie of.
fcred to give bonds to a large amount
that he wouldn't take adolar from any.
body but preachers. OF course this was
charged to Bills prejudice against the
clergy, but that lie meant what ho said
was evidenced by his pulling out thous-
and dollars in greenback,, and insisting
upon placing it in the hands Of any one
the road might name. II 10 useless to
say that he was refused. 1t was not be.
lieyed that he ever won dollar Of
preacher, but Bill has recently demon
strated his success in that line.
A day or two since he boarded q Uni.
on Pacific train in Omaha. In a few
see what he might find, and at last sat
down alongside minister bound for
California on = pleasure excursion. Bill
had farm near Pappllon, SO he said,
and had just been 10 Chicago and sold
"
cattle After getting on good terms the
minister and Bill were interrupted by .
stranger passing through the car and
dropping several playing cards on the
loor just in trout OF them. Bill picked
them up and commenced toying with
them Tho minister deprecated their
introduction into tho world Bill then
went on telling how some fellows had
"took him on the kesrds several days
bsfore on a game they called "three
koerd monkey and gave q half way ex.
planation Of the how Of it. "
Just then beardless boy came in, and
after listening some time to Bills story,
said Now look ahere, old man, can
guess them cards Bill let him try sew
eral times. and sure enough, the boy new.
er missed once, and lost no opportunity
to intimate against Bill's brains. The
latter at last got mad, and offered to bet
his watch agaiast the boys. The boy
jumped at the chance and lost his watch.
Bill then won't to another car to get rid
of the boy, who was boo-hooing at ter.
rblc rate about that watch being given
to him by his dying father, and he must
have it back or he never could face his
dear old mother again. The minister
partially pacifed him, and so far gained
his confidence that be explained how he
had made a mistake, and il lie just had
some more money he would win the
watch back He explained it go perfect
ly to the minister that the latter told him
he had some gold, and would risk it II
The boy would do the betting. The
young innocent agreed, and went into
another car after Canada Bill, who came
in. But didn't want TO bet. He Was
plain, honest farmer, and not gambler.
But the preacher showed him how unjust
it was not to give tho boy chance for
his watch, and Bill consented. Soon
$3.50 Of tAs minister's gold was gone.
4" Papio, shouted the brakesman, and
| Bill threw down the 4" keerds," and told
his antagonists tina. he lived there, and
must get of and "go hum. =" The boy
became SO desperate at this that he told
the minister that he was determined to
get off there too and follow tho old farm
er home and get that watch back.
L. is needless TO say that 1.-THE kid
was in the game
Such il the world Day after day this
three card monte game is talked about 10
the newspapers but all to no purpose
One fool falls, and his place is immedI
ately nlled by another 49,