Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-09-05
THREE-CARD MONTE.


OF BAsKErFUL OF BIBLEs.-Recently,
says the Alta Californian, as the West
ern bound train of the Central Pacific
railroad arrived at Toano, two women
of the crusading class, who had been
travelling on the train for some time,
got off to see if they could find either
sin or sinner to go for. They had with
them basket filed with nice little BIZ
bleS, and with these they Were going
about doing good and making money.
While on the train they sold several
Bibles, and talked about religion and
rum to every one who would submit TO
being thus afflicted. AS they stepped
off the train bowed down by the weight
of the basket which they carried be-
tween them, there was 81 gh OF relief
from the passengers, aud many wish
WAS expressed that the train would
move off and leave them.
While wandering about seeking Gus
toners for their wares they ran across
geuteel looking individual, who was
engaged in tossing around three pieces
Of paste board, amd who seemed To be
buried in deep meditation. They drew
nigh unto him, aud noticing bis finely
cut. classical features were oyerspread
with shades OF sadness, they offered
consolation and a Bible for tour bits.
Finding there were no customers in
SIGHT he good naturedly resolved to give
the ladies little game, just TO while
away time and keep .hem quiet. lie
dealt the cards, and then asked them 10
picl, the Jack which he had previously
shown them. They did SO, once, twice,
three times.
Then he threw them again, and one
of the innocents cried, There it is, YOU
can't fool me if you did throw 'em
quick NO madame, You are mistak-
en-, he replied, and drawing ont OF his
pocket a ten aud two twenty dollar
pieces, he said, Il Il bet you fifty dollars
YOU don't know which is the Jack.
"Oh, we never bet, said one OF them,
but YOU cant fool US with your nlmble
fingers And then they stood and eyed
those gold pieces and thought how
much coed they would 90 them and
how little the possessor, apparently, APP
preciated their worth. Watching for
the favorable moment, the reckless
Young man said, "Well, | don't care
seeing it's you, Iii tell yon what I'll do,
seeing you are so sure about It, Ill bet
YOU this fifty dollars against that basket
of books; but everything goes as 1t lays
you cant find the Jack.
Now they were convinced more than
ever that he was bold, bad, wicked
man, and they determined to take his
money to help them along in the good
cause in which they were engaged.
They put up and as both were certain
! the same card was the one they were
after. one of them seized it with "lhls
is the boy 1t was turned over, and
it was the tray of hearts Their naiu-
rally long faces at once assumed a long
er and more serious cast, and they look
cd at the card, at each other, at the
/ bad, bad man, at the money, and then
at the basket of Bibles, thoroughly be-
wildered.
The monte sharp put up has tools ana
walked off with his plunder, and before
the victims comprehended the situation
he disappeared from sight The sequel
| is soon told. The winner marched
through the train and distributed the
Bibles among the passengers. Several
of the trophies are now on exhibition IN
/ this CITY. What became OF the women
is not known by the passengers.