Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-10-31
AMONG THE MoNrE MEN.

AMONG THE MON tE MEN.
A Midnight Ride with slim Jim
the Famous Monte King-HoW He
Fleeces the Greenies-
correspondence of Sacramento Record ]
We are gliding through the can
Won of the Truckee river at night
nine out of ten of the passengers
are doing, when suddenly the
door opens, and in with the = -
night comes the queerestspeci... i
ofhumanity / ever saw. One side
of tie slouched hat is pinned up,
and by the lamplight discloses a
face that is young and not unhand-
some, a pair of honest blne eyes
and a good forehead. The beard
is unshorn, however, the hair un-
kempt, and every lineament ofthe
sountenance betrays unmistakea-
BILE verdancy. 1t requires no par
ticular knowledge OF character to
decide that the fellow is a green
Missourian fresh from the primi-
tive precincts 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 situli-
ton and surroundings he begins
cumming in low, musical voice
"Away down South in Dixie,
Away, away"
Keeping time to his weird song,
he waltzes with a light. shutting
step the entire length of the car,
and in twink ling has disappear
ed. He has molested no one, not
iced no one. and yet everybody is
awake and talking about this
strange parsonage. Ee had not
awakened them by his humrning
song or shutting dance so much as
BIZ his strange, Undesirable tone,
manner and conduct. The boy on
the front seat is convulsed with
laughter, the young man across the
aisle giggies with glee, broad smiles
oye~spread the faces OF MEN and
nsatrons, and the more serious
mutte-, '.poor fellow! he is crazy"
They are unconscious of the per-
sonage at whom they have been
looking as of the scenery through
which they have been gliding.
All! that good wife would scarce
~ have awakened her drowsy hus-
band to s'look at that fellow" had
she imagined for an instant that it
was "the terrible Slim Jim,"
chiefest of the monte sharps. Ina
little time he returns, and with the
same distracted 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 laughing fellows who are listen
ing to his story. At Truckee, he
said, q lady had stepped up to the
ticket Office to buy her tickle and
found that her purse was missing.
She had asked him for $40, and
promised to pay him when sEegot
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 a droll manner that every
body laughed even while they pit
led the poor fellows loss.
Heseemed to care but little, how
ever, for he drew from his pocket
large lealhern bag fully eighteen
inches in length, that WAS half full
of shining gold pieces. He told
how he had teen swindied out OF
some OF his mouey by the fellows
called "moate sharps," and pro-
ceeded to illustrate the manner in
which they fooled him. Believing
that he had thoroughly learned the
game from the rascals, he offered
10 bet that no one could tell the ace
of diamonds, and in less than five
minutes he lost $400 to a we'll
dressed gentleman who stood
around. His hands moved so aw-
hardly that child could pick out
the right card.
No man ever saw $4,000 placed
conveniently within his grasp whC
was not tempted to covet the lucrc
So it WAS with the black -visa2cd
man, VINO sprang eagerly from his
seat as soon as the greenhorn began
losing his money OF all the tnen
In tie car this man WAS the most
perfect villain, if Gods handwrit
ing in his countenance was moi
wholly unintelligible. Carried
away with one idea of stealing the
Missourian's money, this fellow
planked down his ca IN, his watch,
his gold chain, and-lost! All this
occnpiea not over ten minutes, in.
Guiding the waltz, the game, and
the winning. Just as the fellow
turned the wrong card, a low
A r.. L. ~