Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-09-10

from the country, I've just sold my hogs
and got five or six hundred dollars right
here in my pocket"-slapping that local
ity in his breeches-'' and I'll bet you
that pile you can't do ii"
Then the eyes of the well-dressed
stranger from Cincinnati gave just one
more fash and were dead again. Then
he seemed very drunk and about to 90 to
sleep.
VIVA sat you say Bet five hunerd
doI'r? Take you, an 90 you five hunered
bett'r"
The drover from the country hesitated
moment. while the Cincinnati man
spread out his roll OF money on the
counter. There was more than thou
sand dollars in it. Then he turned 10
his friends and there was a transfer of
divers bills from their pockets to his
hands.
BLAMED if I don't take you" said he
IF you'll let me shuttle the keards first. /"
"Durnfcare," replied the Cincinnatian,
and he had evidently gotten very drunk.
Then the cOuntryman counted out his
81 600, and. after considerable trouble
and poking up of the Cincinnati man
his 81 900 were counted out. too and
both put in the bar-keeper's hands And
the cOuntrvman took those pictorial
pasteboards and the way he shufied
them was a sight to see First he
couldn't get them to mix at all, and then
he'd spill half Of them on the floor. The
bar-keeper asked if he hadn't better
take a bushel- basket for them cards -
but the Cincinnati man seemed to be fast
falling asleep. Atlast theywere shuffled
to the satisfaction of the dealer in swine
who was from Shelby County, bv the
way-and he laid them on the table.
Now, stranger" he said, 1.-The under
standin' is that you cut the keard | name
the fust time, OF else you lose the money:
and if you do cut the keard l name the
fust time then lose the money. Is that
what you bet them greenbacks On?"
The well-dressed man from Cincinnati
reused up sufficiently to say, tha's
WhatImean."
Then I name the Jack O. clubs, so
now cut away"
Then there came sudden change over
that guileless man from Cincinnati. He
reused up all at once. He didn't seem
half as drunk as he was a moment be-
fore. And he put his hand up behind
his neck and he drew long and very
sharp bowie from down his back, and
cut that pack of cards clear through and
down to the counter. Then he reached
over to the bar-keeper and said:
4" I guess III take that pile"
Hold on minute, stranger; don't YOU
be so ALFRED fast" here interposed the
droyer from the interior. "S'pose YOU
look over them keards and show me the
Jack o. clubs"
There was another change suddenly
overspread the face of the gentleman
from Cincinnati. He hurriedly ran
through One-half of the divided pack, and
there was never Jack of clubs there.
Then he ran through the other half of
the pack, and there was not even a show
ing of the Jack of clubs there either
Then he looked at the hog-drover from
Shelby, who looked placidly at him in
return.
Z" Did you find that Jack, stranger?
No, | reckon you didn't, for here it's"
and sure enough, there it was. He slow
ly drew it from up his sleeve and laid it
on the table Then he reached over for
the money and the stakeholder gave it to
HIM
Now, stranger" he continued, "the
next time YOU want ter play any O. your
sure you hain't tackled a coon as knows
'em better'n he does his a b c." and he
modestly pocketed the money.
1t was no use kicking against the
pricks, and that Cincinnati man sadly
saw his greenhacks swallowed up in that
big pocket-book. Then he slowly turned
to 60 and met at the door an excited
crowd. 1t was the loafers, who had
managed to rake up a considerable pile
by moseying around among their friends
and visit 10 their common uncle in his
shop around the corner.
But they were too late. That money
had been gathered in by green-looking
customer from the country. The Gin
cinnati man is inclined to believe that
Kentucky isn't good State to prospect
in Leastways he hasn't been seen
around here since.-LoutS0iHe Courier
JOUTnul.