The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-11-12


the Truckee river, at night, nine out Oi
ten of the passengers are dosing, when
suddenly the door opens, and in with the
cold night comes the queerest specimen
of humanity ever saw. One side of the
slouched hat is pinned up, and by the
lamplight discloses face that is young
and not unhandsome, a pair of honest
blue eyes, and good forehead. The
beard is unshorn, however, the hair un-
kempt, and every liniament of the coun-
tenance betrays unmistakable verdancy.
1t requires no particular 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 cow-hide boot. These and
the wOolen shirt, and the dilapidated
vest and coat, render his costume deci-
dedly seedy. AS if totally ebliviOus OF
the situation and surroundings, he begins
humming in low, musical voice
"Away down South, in Dixie,
Away, away"
Keeping time to his weird song, he
waltzes with light, shutting step, the
entire length of the car, and in twink
ling has disappeared. He has molested
no one, noticed no one, and yet every
body is awake and talking about this
strange parsonage. He has not awakened
them by his humming song or shufiling
danes so much as by his strange, indie
scribable tone, manner, and conduct.
The boy OH the front seat is cOnvulsed
with laughter, the young miss across the
aisle giggles with glee, broad smiles over
spread the faces of men and women, and
the more serious mutter, "pOOr fellow,
he is crazy!" They are as unconscious
of the strange person at whom they have
been looking as of the scenery through
which they have been gliding. All !!
that good wife would scarcely have
awakened her drowsy husband to "look
at that fellow" if she had imagined for
an instant that it was "the terrible Slim
Jim," chiefest of the Monte sharps. In
little time he returns, and with the
same distracted air proceeds to walk
through the car. Impelled by curiosity
several of us followed him into the smok-
ing car. He is surrounded by group
of laughing fellows, who are listening to
his story. At Truckee, he said, lady
had stepped up to the ticket-office to buy
her ticket, and found that her purse was
missing. She had asked him for forty
dollars, and 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 find
ing her. He told the story in such a
drOll manner that everybody laughed,
even while they pitied the poor fellows
10 IN
however, for he drew from his pocket a
large leathern bag, fully eighteen inches
in length, that was half full of shining
gold pieces. He told how he had been
swindled out of some of his money by
the fellows called "monte sharps," and
proceeded to illustrate the manner in
which they had 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 had lost $400
to well dressed gentlemen, who stood
around. His hands moved so awkwardly
that child could pick out the right
card.
No man ever saw $lS,O 900 placed con-
veniently within his grasp who was not
tenn pted 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 losing his money. Of all the
men in the car this man was the most
perfect villain, if Gods handwriting in
his countenance was not wholly unintel-
ligible.
Carried away with the one idea of
stealing the MissOurian's money, this fel-
low planked down his cash, his watch,
his gold chain and-lost! All this Occu-
pied not over ten minutes, including the
waltz, the game, and the winning.
Just as the fellow turned the wrong
card, low whistle from the further end
of the car, announced the coming of the
conductor. Quicker than "scat" the
cards disappeared, the cappers and all
hands dropped into their seats. Slim
Jim drew his hat over his eyes, and the
victim, after gTancing fiercely around for
a 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 any
gambling had been going on. Hardly
had he left the car before the villainous-
looking victim demanded another chance
to bet. From another pocket he had
drawn twenty dollars his last cent, and
eagerly asked for another "sight."
Coolly disregarding his opportunities,
Slim Jim said, No, sir; / don't want to
break YOU" In another minute he had
disappeared through the door, dancing
and humminp 4" Awav aWayo