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

We are gliding through the canyon of
the Iruckee 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 queerest specimen Of
humanity [ ever saw. One side of a
slouched hat is pinned up, and by the
lamplight discloses face that is young
and not unhandsome, pair of honest
blue eyes and good forehead The beard
is unshorn, however, the hair unkempt
and very lneament of the countenance
betrays unmistakable verdancy. 1t re-
quires no particular knowledge of charac-
ter to decide that the fellow is green
Missourian, fresh from the primitive pre-
cincts 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 seedy.
As if totally oblivious of the situation
and surroundings he begins humming in a
low, musical voice
Away down South in Dixie,
Away, away"
Keeping time to his weird song, he
waltzes with light, shuffing step the en-
tire length Of the car, and in a twinkling
he disappeared. He has molested no one,
noticed no one, and yet everybody is awake
and talking about this strange parsonage,
He has not awakened them by his hum
ming song or shutting dance so much as
by his strange, indescribable tone, man
ner and conduct. 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 women, and the more serious, mutter,
"poor fellow he is crazy" They are un-
conscious of the parsonage at whom they
have been looking as of the scenery
through which they have been gliding.
All that good wife would scarcely have
awakenedhe her drowsy husband to "look at
| that fellow had she imagined for an in
slant that it was
THE TERRIBLE SLIM jim"
chiefest of the sharps, in a little time he
returns, and with the same adstracted air
proceeds to walk through the car. In
PEELED by curiosity, several of us follow
him into the smoking car He is sur
rounded by group of laughing fellows
who are listening to his story "At True
kee," " he said, "a lady had stepped up to
the ticket Office to buy her ticket, and
found that her purse was missing. She
had asked for forty dollars, and
promised to pay when she got abroad the
train. He had let her have the money,
and now had gone "clear through" the
cars without finding her. He told the
story in such droll manner that every
body laughed, even while they pitied the
poor fellows loss. He seemed to care but
little, however, for he drew from his pock-
ct large, leathern bag fully eighteen
inches in length, he told how he ha been
swindled out of some money by the fel-
lows called "monte sharps," and proceed
ed to illustrate the manner in which they
fooled him. Believing that he had thor
oughly 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 four hundred dollars to
well dressed men who stood around him,
His hands moved so awkwardly that even
child could pick out the right card.
No man ever saw $4,000 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 green
horn began to lose his money. OF all
the men in the car this man was the most
perfect william, if Gods handwriting in his
countenance was not wholly unintelligble.
| Carried away with the one idea of steal
ing the Missourian's money, this 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 fel-
low turned the wrong card, low whistle
from the further end of the car announ-
ced the coming of the conductor.
Quicker than "scat" the cards disan-
peared, the cappers and all hands dropped
into their seats. Jim drew his hat down
over his eyes, and the victim, after glar-
ing fiercely around for moment. settled
back into his seat in moody silence. The
conductor entered and passed SLOWLY
through the Car, but not single hint did
he obtain of the fact that game was 90
ing on. Hardly had he left the car be-
fore the villainous looking victim demand
ed another chance to bet. From another
pocket he had drawn twenty dollars. his
last cent, and eagerly asked for "a sight /"
Coolly disregarding his opportunities.
Slim Jim said, "No, sir; I don't want to
break YOU" In another minute he had
disappeared through the door, dancing
and humming as before.
AN HONEST MAN.
A quarter of an hour later we found
Slim Jim and his best capper, Mr.. McClel-
Ian, seated in the forward passenger coach
operating on an old Oregon farmer. The
man conscientiously believed that Slim
Jim was halfwitted fellow who had in