The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1874-11-07
slim Jim. the Monte King.
The Queer Apparition that Gided Through
the Cars at Truckee Rivera Mid
Night Hour with the
Monte Sharps.
Correspondence of the Sacramento Record.

/ Correspondence of the Sacramento Record.
We are gliding through the cafion
OF the Truckee river, at night; nine out of
ten OF the passengers are doing, when sud-
denly the door opens, and in with the cold
night comes the queerest specimen of hui
manity ever saw. One side of the slouch-
ed hat is pinned up, and by the lamplght
dlscloses face that is young and not un-
handsome, pair of honest blue eyes, and
a good forehead, The beard is unshorn,
however, the hair unkempt, and every Inca
ment of the countenance betrays unmistaka-
BILE verdancy. 1t requires no particular
knowledge of character to decide that the
fellow is a green Missourian, fresh from
the primitive precincts of Pike county. One
leg of the corduroy pants is stuffed into the
top of an old cowhide boot. These, and
the woollen shirt, and the dilapidated vest
and coat, render his costume exceedingly
seedy. AS if totally oblivous of the situa-
ton and surroundings, he begins humming
| in q low, musical voice
Away down south in Dixie,
Away, away"
Keeping time to his weird song, he waltz
es with light, shuf1ing step the entire
length of the car, and in a twinkling has
disappeared. He has molested no one.
and yet, everybody is awake and talking
about this strange parsonage. He has not
awakened them by his hummlng song or
his shuffiing dance so much as by his strange
indescribable tone, manner, and conduct.
The boy on the front seat is conyulsed with
laughter, the young miss across the aisle
glggles with glee, broad smiles overspread
the faces of men and matrons. and the more
serious mutter, 'sPoor fellow he is crazy"
lhey are as unconscious of the person at
whom they have been looking as of the
scenery through which they have been gill
ding All that good wife would scarcely
have awakened her drowsy husband to
look at that fellow" had she imagined
for instant that it was "the terrible Slim
Jim, =" chiefest of the monte sharps. In
little time he returns, and with the same
abstracted air proceeds to walk through the
car. Impelled by curiosity, several of us
follow him into the smoking car. He is
surrounded by group of laughing fellows
who are listening to his story. At Truckee,
he said, lady had stepped up to the ticket
office to buy her ticket, and found that her
purse was missing. She had asked him for
s4o, and had promised to pay him when
she got aboard the train. He let her have
the money, and now had gone "clean
through = the cars without finding her. He
told the story in such droll manner that
everybody laughed, even while they pitied
the poor fellows loss. He seemed to care
but little, however, for he drew fronn his |
pocket large leathern bag, fully eighteen
inches in length, that was half full of shi-
ninr oa1I--.----- II--srftl- 1or,, H.
been swindled out of his money by the lei |
laxus called 6 monte sharns - and nrnceeded |
to illustrate the manner in which they fool |
ed him. Believing that he had thoroughly |
learned the game from the rascals, he offer |
ed to bet that no one could tell the ace of |
diamonds, and in less than five minutes he
had lost $400 to well-dressed gentlemen |
who stood around. His hands moved so |
awkwardly that child could pick out the
right card.
No man ever saw $4,000 placed conve-
niently within his grasp who was not |
tempted to covet the filthy lucre. So it was
with the black-yisaged man who sprang
eagerly from his seat as soon as the green
horn began losing his money. Of all the
men in the car this man was the most per-
feet villain, if Gods handwriting in his
countenance was not wholly unintelligible.
Carried away with the one idea of stealing
the Missourian's money, this fellow plank
ed down his cash, his watch, his gold chain
and-lost! All this occupied not over ten
minutes, including the waltz, the game,
and the winning. Just as the fellow turn
ed the wrong card, a low whistle from the
further end of the car announced the COM
ing of the conductor.
Quicker than ssscat'' the cards disappear
ed, the cappers and all hands dropped into
their seats, Slim Jim drew his hat down
over his eyes, and the victim, after glaring
iercely around for moment, settled back
into his seat in moody silence. The con-
ductor entered and passed slowly through
The car, but not single hint did he obtain
Of the fact that a game had been going
ON. Hardly had he left the car before the
Misunderstanding victim demanded another
chance to bet. From another pocket he
had drawn $40, his last cent, and eagerly
demanded a sight" Coolly disregarding
his opportunities, Slim Jim said, ".No, sir;
don't want to break you.'' In another
minute, he had disappeared through the
door, dancing and humming, Away,
away