The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-07-17
DEACON DULLDOZER AND
THE CONFIDENCE MAN.

boro had greater faculty OF demon
strating that black was white and
white was black. Few of his neigh
bors had ever dealt with him without
being worsted. No man in the
country could get the advantage of
him in horse trade, for he was very
cautious and plausible man.
! He was very stingy and selfish.
/ He never gave anything to the needy
and unfortunate but advice with that
article he was very profuse and liberal.
/ Moses Knapp, who was one of De2-
1 con David DnlldoZer's neighbors was
a very meek and credulOus sort OF
man. His extreme honesty and cred
ulity were his great failings and mis-
! fortunes. He was bound to believe
what everybody told him, and though
often puzzled at the conflicting state
ments of his neighbors, he invariably
believed that all were sincere in their
affirmasions. He was an industrious
and hardWorking man, but his world
! ly prosperity was slow by reasons of
his lack of what some men call legiti-
mate enterprise.
Now Moses Knapp once had oeca-
sion to visit Chicago what his motive
in making the journey was does not
matter. 1t might have been the con-
tempIated purchase of some agricul-
tural implements or from irrepressible
desire to behold the wonderful wax
works in Woods Museum.
A trip to Chicago was an important
event in the life of Moses Knapp, for
he rarely went outside the boundaries
of the town he lived in. AS soon as
Deacon David Dulldozer heard of
Moses Knapp's proposed journey he
made due haste to call upon him to
give the credulous neighbor little
advice.
'sTake plenty of money, Moses" he
said, $50 if the cars run off the track,
or anything else happens, you won't
be helpless among strangers"
f1Don't git your pocket picked or
git taken in by any of them confidence
men that stand around the street cor
ners. They are plausible fellows,
Moses. But [ was always too much
for 'em. Now remember, don't be-
lieve nothing they tell you."
Moses thanked the Deacon for his
interest in his welfare and promised
to be very cautious and careful.
Shortly after he started for the Gar
den City. After riding few miles a
well dressed and pleasant looking
stranger approached him and begged
leave to share his seat. Moses was
lust wishing he had some one to talk
with him, and moving along cheer
fully made room for the stranger be-
side him and the two were soon chat
ting with the familiarity of old
friends. e.
"Live in Snoozeboro ?"
eyes" pleasantly responded.Moses
''Ah, very fine farming locality"
'sYes, have you been there ?"
"Often."
"Do you know Deacon David Dull
dozer, an Amos Tompkins, an Rod
ney Green?"
"Why, yes. The Deacon is sort
of second cousin of mine"
E'Wal, wal. Yes I've heard him
speak of you lots of time. 1t is
Featherly, amt it 2"
ayes"
"From Flagg's Flatts?"
eyes. Pm the man."
a~ $50, so. Wal, Pm mighty glad to
see you'll Coin to Chicago I"
= Yes, it will be real pleasant to
have you for company"
DO IUGH EOuG O1i lOL SOlAC 14Oug uA-
til Featherly began to grow drowsy.
1t was late in the evening, and they
would not reach Chicago until after
day break on the next morning.
'Be you gettin' sleepy?" asked
Moses meekly.
Yes. l believe I'd take a nap if it
wasn't for the thieves and pickpockets
that are so thick on these trains man
can't go into a doze without theiI
going through him."
"Goin' thru him." said Moses, not
fully comprehending the term.
I sYes, his pockets, and taking his
wallet and watch from him."
"No?" Moses clapped his hand on
his pocket-book to assure himself it
was not gone.
aIt's unfortunately true" continued
Mr.. Featherly. "Now, I'll tell you
Mr.. Knapp, what I'll do. If you'll
just take charge of my valuables, III
lay down and sleep till midnight.
you wake me up then and I'll do the
same favor for you,"
This proposition greatly pleased
Moses. He began to think Mr.. Feath-
erly a very honest and clever man,
when he handed out his valuable gold
watch and well filled pocket book to
him, and charged him to wake him
promptly at twelve.
Mr.. Featherly then turned over and
went to sleep, while Moses regarded
the property committed to his keep
ing with lynx eyes. He was fiattered
by the confidence Mr.. Featherly re-
posed in him. Mr.. Featherly was
fine sort of man.
Promptly at midnight Moses gave
his companion violent shake, who
awoke with a yawn and professed
much surprise that the hours had
passed so swiftly. Moses returned
the property that he had SO faithfully
guarded to its owner. Then taking
his own watch and well filled wallet
he handed them to Mr.. Featherly who
promised to carefully keep them.
Then the unsuspicions farmer turned
over and settling down in the seat
soon deeply reposed. Meanwhile the
train rumbled on and the cars came
to a prominent junction not many
miles from the Garden City. Moses
was soundly sleeping, his companion
had disappeared.
Morning came. Moses was ava
kened by the voice of the brakeman
gruffly speaking: "Come, come, old
fellow, are you going to sleep all day 2
Wake up, / want to lock up the car"
Moses rubbed his eyes.
"Wal, Mr.. Featherly, have we got
to Chicago?"
"Got here an hour ago, and the cars
have been switched off on q side track
Come, get out quick, want to lock
up," said the brakeman.
Moses was astonished at what had
happened. He soon comprehended
The situation fortunately he had his
return ticket, and impelled by chagrin
and anxiety he took the first train for
home. i,.t ul@
OF course Deacon David Dulldozer
laughed at him very heartily when he
heard of his misfortune and was
ready with his usual cheerful and
consoling salutation: "There, told
you So"
/ Shortly after Deason David Dnll-
dozer had occasion to visit the Gar
den City. OF course nobody gave
him any advice he was man not to
be beaten by anyconfidence operators.
d. Ia 80, - L.