The Grange advance., 1874-11-04
She had asked


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
finding her. He told the story in such
q 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 a
large leathern bag, fully eighteen inches
in length, that wass half full of shining
gold pieces. He told how he was swim
died out Of his money by the fellows
called ''monts sharps," and proceeded
to illustrate the manner in 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 $4OO to
well-dressed gentlemen who stood
around. His hands moved so awk.
wardly that child could pick out the
right card.
No man ever saw $l8, 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
al 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, 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 fellow turned the wrong card, a
low whistle from the further end of the
car announced the coming Of the con-
ductor.
Quicker than ''scat' the cards disap-
peared, the cappers and all hands drop.
ped into their seats. Slim Jim drew
his hat down over his eyes, and the
victim, after glaring fiercely around for
a moment, settled back into his seat in
moody silence. The conductor en-
tered and passed slowly through
the car, but not single hint did he OBJ
tain 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 eagerly drawn
twenty dollars, his last cent, and asked
for '*sight." Coolly disregarding his
opportunities Slim Jim said, "No. sir, I
don't want to break you" In another
minute be had disappeared through the
door. dancing and humming Away,
away
AN HONEST NAN.
A quarter Of an hour later We found
Slim Jim and his best capper, Mr.. Nc.
Clellan, seated in the forward passen-
ger coach operating on an old Oregon
farmer. The man conscientiously be-.
lieved that Slim Jim was half.witted
fellow, who had in some way become
possessed Of $4,000. He further be-
lieved that the poor fellow had been
fleeced by the monte sharps, and was
bunglingly attempting to initiate the
game. He saw the capper win three
or four hundred dollars and had even
turned the card over twice
that won hundred dollars. At last
Slim Jim refused to let the capper bet
any more because he was too lucky,
and the latter slipped $3.50 into the old
mans hand, which he bet, won and in.
stantly returned to the capper. After
this he was too honest to bet. 81 know
l could win your money, young
man, but will not burden my con-
science with such crime.'' Once he
took out his pocket-book and showed
check for thousand dollars and sever
al 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 near him. 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 conscience
would not let him rob half-witted
fool. and thereby, all unawares, he
saved cool thousand. believe the
mans sterling integrity touched the
monte mems hearts, for they made no
further efforts to play until they reach
ed Reno.
Licking Up the Tosger.''
At the present moment, when the
free opening Of the Tower is exciting
such general interest, it may not be un-
interestinp to mention a cnston ca1led