The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-11-05

He further believed the poor fellow haC
been fieeced by the monte sharps, and wal
bungllngly attempting to initiate the game
lie saw the capper win three or four hun
dred dollars, and had even turned the care
once or twice that won hundred dollars
At last Slim Jim refused to let the cap
per bet anym becausehe was too lucky
and the latter slipped $3.50 into the ole
mans hand, which he bet, won, and in
stantly returned to the capper After
this he was too honest to bet. II know
L could win your money, young man, but
will not burden my conscience with such g
crime" Once he took out his pocket
book and showed check for a thousand
dollars and several gold coins, yet he
would not bet dollar, He was going
back to visit his old home after many
years of absence, and his family sat be-
side. Perhaps the pure, upturned face OF
his sleeping little girl or perhaps the
trusting look Of his dear old wife, helped
to restrain him; but at all events, his con.
science would not let him rob a halfwit
ted fool, and thereby, all unawares, he
saved a cool thousand | believe the
mans sterling integrity touched the monte
mems heart, for they made no further eff
fort to play until they reached Reno.
Here we met the western bound pas.
senger, and | hadan excellent opportunity
Of watching the entire working up" pro-
cess. Slim Jim and his three cappers
appeared to be total strangers They nev-
er met, spoke or even looked at each 9th
er. Strolling leisurely through the train,
each spotted his man that in his opinion
was most "gullible," and sat down by him.
The cappers are genial, pleasant, whole
souled fellows, who win your confidence in
five minutes chat, and by the time the
conductor has gathered up the tickets,
Slim Jim comes along, and you are easily
led on to try your luck at what appears to
be dead rething The most skeptical
Californian will believe his own eyes, and
herein lies the beauty of the game. AT
one time | sat with my eyes not twenty
inches from Slim Jim's hand, and | could
not possibly detect him in the act of cheat
ing cards Sometimes the corner of a
winning card would be crumpled up so
that all could see; and with single move
ment, while you were intently watching,
the corner would be Strengthened and an
other card would have the crumpled ap-
pearance. A grease spot, pencil mark
or drop of ink marked the card no sur
er for the soft delicate fingers would give
a quiet little shuttle, and the spot, the
mark, or the ink would be in the corner
as before, but upon the wrong card Once
Slim Jim seemed to have discovered the
spot, and in his simple, foolish way tore
off the corner, spot and ALL | watched
closer than ever, and when the card lay
on his lap as before, minus the corner, I'd
have staked my existence, yet afellow from
Idaho bet SlOO check, and lost. The
deft fingers of the monte chief had con
cealed the mutilated portion of the win
ming card, and clipped the corner of an
other
Slim Jim has been known all along th'
line of the Central Pacific for two or thre'
years He wins from those who bet a
his game, but to all others he is quiet
peaceable, open-handed gentleman.
use the word gentleman deliberately an,
advisedly. He never gets drunk, use
no insulting language or effects the des
perado in the least. He pays his obliga
tions, acts squarely and honestly, spend
his money freely s.and dispenses charit
with lavish hand. He never wins iron
railway man or person who lives il
the towns along the road. If man i
victimized, a capper stays beside him un
til it is ascertained that the fellow ha
money enough to carry him to the end o
his destination, and if he is broke none,
is furnished. Unless it is at the very be
ginning of the game, Slim Jim never ac
cepts small bets. At least thirty men of
fered to wager small sums that night
The amounts ranged from ten to twent
dollars, and included every cent of spend
Ing money they possessed Jim invaria
bly, refused to throw the cards No on
ever asked him forIassistance without re
cciving it promptly. A foolish emigran
lost $4,000 at thesgame, and few me
ments after Jim Tgave every cent of it t
the poor wife and children in the othe
car, simply, because, they appealed to hi
better nature. Too often, however, tn
losers try to frighten or bully him into re
funding their money. This is a poo
plan. for Jim is well known to be
A MAN THAT DON'T SCARE.
While he wholly avoids quarrels, ant
all attempts at bravado, and while no maj
can accuse him or his gang of ever threat
ening with drawn weapons, or threatened
to brew disturbance, yet he is as fearless
man as ever lived Several times he ha!
been shot at, and once or twice narrowly
escaped with life. One man carried hi.
cash in belt around his waist, concealed
beneath his pants. In his eagerness Il
win Jim's money he became so excitec
that he did not wait to fasten his pants
but letting them drop around his feet, h,
wagered the money, belt and all. II,
turned the wrong card, and lost. Quicl
as fash, he reached down as if to catcl
his pants; but instead he drew pisto
| from his pockets, placed it against jim
head, and fired. 1t was so unexpecteC
that no one could prevent the act, but
hand struck up the pistol just enough t.
send the bullet crushing into the side o
the car, an inch above Jim's scalp
THERE'S MONEY IN THE BUSINESS,
otherwise, men with the intellect the ed
ucation, the perseverance, and indefatiga
BILE industry of Slim jim and his capper
would do something else If any one in
agines for moment that their none
comes easy, let them watch for one or tw
trips, their talk, their study of character
and the constant tension of brain an
nerve that is necessary to indnce the vic
TINS to bet. They catch sleep wheneve
they are able, and endure fatigue an
WEAKNESS that would completely exhaus
men unused to the business. Probabl
they make from $4,000 to $4,000 pc
week, yet they earn every cent.-Co,
Sacramento Record.
A SNOB TAKEN DOWN.