The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-11-13
SLIM JIM, THE MONTE KING.
Waiting Through the Cars at Truckee
River.


River.
We are'gliding through the canyon o.
the Truckee river, at night, nine out o.
ten of the passengers are DOING, When
suddenly the door opens, and in with
the cold night comes the queerest spe'
cimen of humanity ever saw. One
side of the slouched hat is pinned mp,
and by the lamplight discloses a face
that is young and not unhandsome, a
pair of honest blue eyes, and a good
forehead. The beard is unshorn, how
ever, the hair unkempt, and every Inca
ment of the countenance betrays unmis-
taxable verdancy. It requires no par
ticular knowledge of character to
decide chat the fellow is a green Mis-.
sourian, fresh from the primitive pre-
cincts of Pike 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
aud coat, render his costume decidedly
seedy. As if totally oblivious Fof 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
Eody is awake and talking about this
ened them by his humming song or
shutting dance, so much as by his
strange, indescribable 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
matrons, and the more serious mutter,
Poor fellow, he is crazy" They are
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
her drowsy husband to " look
at that fellow" had she imagined for an
instant that it was "the terrible Slim
Jim" chiefest of the monte sharps. In
a little time he returns. and with the
same abstracted air proceeds 20 walk
the car. Impelled by curios-
ity, several of us follow him into the
He is surrounded by a
group of laughing fellows, who are lis
tening 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 $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
n such droll manner that everybody
laughed, even while theypitied the poor
fellows loss. He seemed TO care but
little, however, for he drew from his
pocket a large leather bag, fully Is
inches in length, that was half full of
shining gold pieces. He told how he
lad been swindled out Of some of his
money by the fellows called "monte-
,harps," and proceeded to illustrate the
manner in which they had fooled him.
Believing that he had thoroughly
earned the game from tie rascals, he
offered to bet that no one could tell the
zee of diamonds, and in less than five
minutes he had lost S400 to we'll dressed !
gentlemen who stood around. His |
lands moved so awkardly that O child |
,ould pick out the right card.
No man ever saw $lS,0 200 placed con-
within his grasp who was not |
empted to cOvet the lucre. So it was
With the black-visaged man who sprang |
eagerly from his seat as soon as the |
,reenhorn began losing his money. OF |
III the men in the car this man was the |
most perfect william, if Gods handwrit-
ng in his countenance was not wholly /
Carried away with the |
ne idea of stealing the Missourian's |
money, this fellow plauked down his
ash, his watch, his gold chain, and
ost All this occupied not over ten
including the waltz, the game,
nd the winning. Just as the fellow
urned the wrong card, low whistle
rom the further end of the car an
Junced the coming of the conductor.
Quicker that Z" scat" the cards disap-
cared, the cappers and all hands
ropped into their seats, Slim Jim drew
is hat down over his eyes, and the vic
i'm, after glaring fiercely around for
moment, settled back into his seat in
loedy silence. The conductor entered
nd passed slowly through the car, but
OF single hint did he obtain of the
lct that a game had been going on.
[ardly had he left the car before the
Misunderstanding victim demanded an
ther chance to bet. From another
ocket he had drawn 500, his last cent,
nd eagerly asked for a " sight" Cool
: disregarding his opportunities, Slim
i'm said, "No, sir; don't want to
reak you." In another minute he had
through the door, dancing
Dd humming, "Away, away. "-SacTG-