The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-10-25

the pT1mluve precincts OF IKE county. One
leg Of the corduroy pants is stuffed into the
top of an old cowhide boot. These, and the
wooden shirt, and the dilapidated vest and
coat, render his costume decidedly seedy. As
if totally oblivious of the situation and sur
roundings, he begins humming in low, mu-
steal 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 cal, and in atwinkling has disappeared.
He has molested no one, noticed no one, and
yet everybody is awade and talking obout this
strange personane. He has not awakened
them by his humming song or shutting dance
SO much as by his strange, indescribsble tone,
manner and conduct The boy on the front
seat is convulsed with laughter, the young
miss across the aisle giggles with glee. broad
smiles overspread the faces of men and mat
rons, and the more serious mutter, "Poor
fellow +! he is crazy" They are as uncon-
scious Of the 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 husband to ''look
at that fellow" had she imagined for an in
slant that it was
'THE TERRIBLE SLIM JIM"
|
returns, and with the same distracted air pro-
ceeds to walk through the car. Impelled by
curiosity, several Of us follow him into the
smoking-car. He is surrounded by q group Of
laughing fellows, who are listening to his
story. At Truckee, he said, a lady had stepped
| up to the ticket-ofice to buy her ticket, and
found that 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 droll manner that
everybody laughed, even while they pitied the
poor fellows loss. He seemed to care but lit
tie, 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 swind-
led out of some of his money by the fellows
called "monte 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,
| well-dressed gentlemen who stood around. His
hands moved so awkwardly that child could
pick out the right card
No man ever saw SIS, 900 placed convenient
ly within his grasp who was not tempted to
covet the lucre So it was with the black
visagsd man, who sprang eagerly from his
seat as soon rs the greenhorn began losing his
money. Of ali the men in the car this man
was the most perfect villain, if Gods hand
writing in his countenance was not wholly un-
Ineligible. Carried away with the one idea
of stealing the young Missourians money,
this fellow planked down his cash, his watch,
his gold chain, and-lost All this occupied
not over ten minutes. including 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 'tscat" the cards disappeared,
the cappers and all hands dropped into their
seats. Slim Jim drew his hat down over his
eyes, and the victim, after glazing fiercely
around for q moment, settled back into his
seat in moody silence. The conductor entered
and passed slowly through the car, but not a
game had been going on. Hardly had he left
the car before the villainous looking victim
demanded another chance to bet From an
other pocket he had drawn twenty dollars, his
last cent, and eagerly asked for a ''sight
Coolly disregarding his opportunities, Slim
Jim said, "No, sir, I don't want to break
you" In another minute he had disappeared
through the door, dancing and humming
''Away, away"
AN HONEST MAN.
A quarter Of an hour later we found Slim
Jim and his best capper, Mr.. Mcclellan,
seated in the forward passenger coach oper-
ating on an old Oregon farmer. The man
conscientiously believed that Slim Jim was a
half-witted fellow, who had in some way be-
come possessed of $4,000. He further be-
lieyed the poor fellow had been feeced 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 once or twice that won hum
dred dollars. At last Slim Jim refused to let
the capper bet any more because he was too
lucky, and the latter slipped $50 into the old
mans hand, which he bet, won, and instantly
returned to the capper. After this he was too
honest to bet. II know I could win your
money, young man. but will not burden my
conscience with such a crime" Once he took
out his pooket-book and showed check for a
thousand dollars and several gold coins, yet
he would not bet dollar. He was going back
to visit his old home, after many years of alb
sence, snd 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 effort to play
until they reached Reno.
A discussion having sprang up in Boston as
to the pronunciation of the word "sojourner,"
II appears that ten leading photographers
place the accent on the first syllable, and
three Of less authority place it on the second
syllable.
The birth of the Duchess of Edinburghs
babv increases the number of Queen Victoria
grandchildren to twenty -six, OF whom twenty
three are living.