Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-11-07
THE MONTE KING.

The queer Apparitioa that .GsIided
Through the Cars at TrucIkee hiTsr.
We are gliding through the canyon of
the Truckee river, at night, nine out of
ten of the passengers are doing, when
suddenly the door opens, and in with
the cold night comes the dueefest speei-
men of humanity ever saw. One side
of the slouched hat is pinned up, and
by the ldmplight discloses a face that
is yodng snd not unhandsome, pair
of honest blue eyes, and G good fore
head. The beard is unshorn, however,
the hair unkempt, and every lineament
of the countenance betrays unmis-
taxable verdancy. It requires no par
ticular knowledge Of character to decide
that the fellow 10 a green Missourian,
fresh from the primitive preoihots OF
Pike county. One leg of the corduroy
pants is stuffed into the top of an old
cowhide boot. These, and the woolen
shirt, and the dilapidated vest and coat,
render his costume decidedly ceedy.
As if totally oblivious of the situation
and surroundings, he begins httmming
in low, musical voice
Away down South in Dixie,
Away, away"
Keeping time to his weird song, he
waltzes with light, shutting step the
entire length of the car, and in O twink
ling has disappeared. He has molested
no one, noticed no one, and yet every
body is awake and talking about this
strange parsonage. He has not awaken
ed them by his humming song or shut
fling dance so much as by his strange,
indescribable tone, manner, and con-
duct. The boy on the front seat is
convulsed with laughter, the young
miss across the aisle giggles with glee,
broad smiles overspread the faces of
men and matrons, and the more serious
mutter, "Poor fellow he is crazy"
They are as unconscious of the person
at whom they have been looking as of
the scenery through which they have
been gliding. All !! that good wife
would scarcely have awakened her
drowsy husband to "look at that fell
low" had she imagined for an instant
that it was "the terrible Slim Jim, !"
chiefest of the monte sharps. In lit
tie 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 laugh
ing 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
$40, 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 find
ing her. He told the story in such O
droll manner that everybody laughed,
even while they pitied the poor fellows
loss. He seemed to care but little,
However, for he drew from his pocket
large leathern bag, fully eighteen
inches in length, that was half full of
shining gold pieces. He told how he
had been swindled out of some money
by the fellows called "monte sharps," !"
and proceeded to illustrate the mannerin
which they fooled him. Believing that
he had thoroughly learned the game
from the rascals, he offered to bet that
no one could tell the ace of diamonds,
and in less than five minutes he 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 $18, 900 placed con-
veniently within his grasp who was not
tempted to covet the lucre. So it was
with the black-visaged man who sprang
eagerly from his seat as soon as the
greenhorn began losing his money. Of
all the men in the car this man was the
most perfect villain, if Gods hand
writing in his countenance was not
wholly unintelligible. Carried away
with the one idea of stealing the Mis-
sourian's money, the fellow. planked
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 turned the wrong card, low
whistle from the further end of the Car
announced the coming of the conductor.
Quicker than "scat" the cards dis
appeared, the cappers and all hands
dropped into their seats, Slim Jim
drew his hat down over his eyes, and
the victim, after glaring fiercely
around for moment, settled back into
his seat in moody silence. The conduc-
tor entered and passed SLOWLY. through
the car, but not a single hint did he
obtain of the fact that game had been
going on. Hardly had he left the car
before the villainous- looking victim de-
manded another chance to bet. From
another pocket he had drawn $40, his
last cent, and eagerly asked for a
"sight." Coolly disregarding his i'm
portunities, Slim Jim said, "No, sir
I dent want to break YOU" In another
minute he had disappeared through the
door, dancing and humming, "Away.
away"
Superstition Among Miners.
A large number of the miners en-