Middletown transcript., 1875-05-22

which he had witnessed. The fir
mentioned stranger in the black sloucf
ed hat and Kentucky gray jeans sue
denly reused up from tho position
which he had eurled himself up on th
seat, and chuckling asked "What woul
you think Of the way they treat Grim
nails in my State ?" The stranger wit
the gold chain inquired what was th
mode of treatment? With anothe
chuckle as if in great glee, he replied
1--WE hang 'em, especially for hors
stealing The conversation being con
tinued, Texas as I shall call him, in
formed us that he was horse trade
from that State; that he bad brough
on a drove Of eight hundred horses
had sold them all for the money ant
was returning home in company will
his wife's father; that he had then oil
belt worn under his clothing contain
ing fifteen thousand dollars in gold
which he was taking back with him t
Texas And" said he, ''if you dom
believe it just feel it. as he rose anc
approached the second stranger Che with
the gold chain) be drew aside the skirt o
his coat; and sure enough there was
what seemed to be large amount o.
gold in his belt. Beside which. he
thrust his hand into the inside breast
pocket of his gray jean coat. and draw
ing out large package of greenbacks
displayed them to view, remarking that
he had plenty Of paper money also,
''but," SAID he, ave don't use it in
Texas"
Taking his seat and returning his
money to his pocket, he said he had
lost thousand dollars on the train
coming down from Columbia, and the
"Old Man." as he termed his father
in-law, had lost fifteen hundred dollars
at the same time and in consequence
had got gloriously drunk, and was at
that moment asleep in the sleeping car
in the rear-upon being questioned as
to how the money was lost, Texas ex-
planned that he had fallen into company
with very nice man on the train who
had three small white cards in his pos
session on one Of which was the picture
Of lady; that the nice man took the
three cards in his hand with the faces
upward, and throwing high and over
threw them on his knee with their faces
down; that after performing this move
ment a few times the nice man remark
ed that he would bet hundred dollars
no enc present could. after he turned
the cards. designate the one with the
lady on it. Texas having plenty Of
money, and being certain that he could
identify the card, Gas he told us) re-
piled that be would bet the nice man
a thousand dollars; upon which, the
money was put up, the cards turned,
Texas reached over took up the card
upon which he supposed was the lady
Cor queen), was disappointed, lost his
money, and the nice man coolly trans
ferred the thousand dollars to his own
pocket. At this point, the father-in-
law, believing that he could identify
the card, remarked to Texas, "Stand
back Billy, you don't understand it
let me have chance; who. stalking his
fifteen hundred dollars, turned up the
wrong card, and lost his money, which
went into the same receptacle with the
previous thousand won from Texas
and then the "Old Man" got drunk and
retired to the sleeping car to rest and
get sober. Texas then told us he had
three of those same little
cards, and had learned how the thing
was done. That he intended to take
them home with him "to fool the bows
with" but, that he did not intend to
give them even an inkling that he had
ost any Of his money. That he in
:ended to keep it profound secret lock-
I'd up in his own breast on his return
lome
The second stranger seemed to be
7ery much interested in this matter,
Ind asked Texas to show him how it
vas done Whereupon, Texas reached
or his old leathern saddle bags, and
them as well as he could on
he seat beside him, produced three
mall, square. white cards, on one of
which was the figure of lady (known
IS the queen card.) Taking up the
hree cards be fixed them in the palm
# his right hand side by side with
heir faces upwards. and held them
here by slightly crooking his fingers,
ausing the edges Of the cards to
catch" on the wrinkles produced by
hus crooking his fingers; then turning
lis wrist he brought the back of his
'and upwards, deposited the cards on
he surface Of the ,saddle-bags. with
heir faces of course downward, and
therefore, concealed from view. He
reformed this movement several times,
o show the spectators how the thing
Tas done, and every one present seem
d to be much pleased and interested