Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-05-29
DEACON DULLDQZER AND THE
Hcf CONFIDENCE MAN.


man. No one in Snoozeboro had greater
faculty OF demonstrating that black was
white and white was black. Few of his
neighbors had ever dealt with him with
out being worsted No man in the eoun-
try could get the advantage of him in a
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 Deacon
David Dulldozer's neighbors was a very
meek and credulous sort of man. His
extreme honesty and credulity were his
greatest failings and misfortunes He was
bound to believe what everybody told
him and though often puzzled at the con-
flicting statements of his neighbors, he in
vsriably believed that all were sincere in
their af1irmations. He was an industrious
and hard-working man, but his worldly
prosperity was slow by reason of his lack
of what some men call legitimate enter
prise.
Now Moses Knapp once had occasion
to visit Chicago; what his motive in max
ing the journey was does not matter. 1t
might have been the contemplated pur-
chase of some agricultural implements or
from an 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 Da-
vid DulldoZer heard Of Moses Knapp's
proposed journey he made due haste to
call upon him to give his credulous neigh
Dor a little pratuitOuS advice
Take plenty of money, Noses" he said,
so if the cars run off the track, or any
thing else happens, you won't be helpless
among strangers. Don't git your pocket
picked or git taken in by any of them con
tidence men that stand around the street
corners. They're plausible fellows, Moses.
But | was always too much for 'em. Now
remember, don't believe nOthin' they tell
you"
Moses thanked the Deacon for his kind
ly interest in his welfare and promised to
be very cautious and careful
Shortly after he started for the Garden
City. After riding a few miles we'll
dressed and pleasant looking stranger ap-
preached him and begged leave to share
his seat. Moses was just wishing that he
had some one to talk with, and moving
along he cheerfully made room for the
stranger beside him and the two were soon
chatting with the familiarity Of old
friends.
Live in SnooZeboro?'
Yes" pleasantly responded Moses.
All, very fine farming locality'
Yes, have you ever been there?"
"Often."
Do you know Deacon David Dull
dozer, an Amasa Tompkins, an Rodney
Green?"
why, yes. The Deacon is sort of
a second cousin of mine"
oval, wal. Yes. I've heerd him speak
erly, amt it?'
yes"
From Flagg's Flatts?"
Yes, I'm the man"
SO, So. Wal I'm mighty glad to see
you; goin' to Chicago?"
"1es, it will be real pleasant to have
you for company"
SO they rode on for some hours, until
Featherby began to grow drowsy. 1t was
late in the evening, and they would not
arrive in Chicago until after aybreak on
the next morning.
"Be you gettin' sleepy?" asked Moses,
meekly.
Yes / believe I'd take a nap if it
wasn't for the thieves and pickpockets
that are 50 thick on these trains; man
can't 90 into a dose without their going
through him?"
Coin thru him?" asked Moses in as
tonishment, not fully comprehending the
term.
"Yes, picking his pockets, and taking
hi. wallet and watch from him.
"No?" Moses clapped his hand upon
his pocket-book, to assure himself that it
was not gone.
Its unfortunately true, continued Mr.
Featherly Now Iii 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.. Featherly very
honest and clever man, when he handed
out his valuable gold watch and well-tilled
pocketbook to him, and charged him TO
wake him promptly at twelve, Mr.. Feath-
erly then turned over and went to sleep,
while Moses regarded the property com
mitted to his keeping with lynx eyes. He
was tlattered by the confidence Mr.. Feath-
erly reposed in him. Mr. Featherly was
fine sort of a man.
1EOllpllN III ulluUlgul MOSES gave HIS
companion a violent shake, who awoke
with yawn and professed much surprise
that the hours had passed so quickly.
Moses returned the property that he had
so faithfully guarded to its owner Then
taking his own watch and well-tilled wal
let, he handed them to Mr. FeatherIy
who promised to carefully Keep them.
Then the unsuspicious farmer turned over
and settling down in his seat, soon deeply
reposed Meanwhile the train rumbled
on and the cars came to prominent june
ton not many miles from the Garden City
Moses was soundly sleeping; his com
panion had disappeared.
Morning came. Moses was awakened
by the voice of brakeman grutf1y speak
ing:
"Come, come old fellow, are you going
to sleep all day? Wake up, want to lock
up the car"
Moses rubbed his eyes.
oval, Mr.. Featherly, have we got to
Chicago?"
Got here an hour ago, and the cars have
been switched off on a side-track Come,
get out quick, | want to lock up" said the
brakeman.
Moses was astonishcd at what had hap
pened He soon comprehended the situa-
tion fortunately he had his return ticket
and impelled by his chagrin and anxiety
he took the first train home.
OF course Deacon David Dulldozer
laughed at him very heartily when he
with his usual cheerful and consoling salu-
u, I II