Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-06-07
Where's - Soapl"

The sharpers who have been living
in clover in this city for the past year
or so by the means of such games as
Bunko," "Strap,' and the "Top-
and-Bottom" game, have generally
made their headquarters at Dowd's sa-
loon, on Sutter street below Montgom-
cry. Here, at any time during off
hours, may be seen sauve and noDcha-
liant Charley Marion, neat and dapper
Harry Ashton, and Others of that ilk.
When, at times, the verdant victim
gets an idea that he has been fieeced,
the matter is generally left to some
one In Dowd's place, who assures
Greeny" it Is all right, and 10y his
decision the matter is oftentimes set
tied.
"soAP" nc ALPINE.
In every swind. of the kind it is
always necessary o have "a stall ~
that is, a man who, while in with the
thieves, is to prett 1 as much igno.
rance az their vic N really possesses.
When greenh0rn is 10th to put up
money--not bein. assured of the chan
ces of the game-then is time for the
stall' to enter. He is generally
dressed i'm back woods fashion, talks
loud, throws around his money. is
ready to bet on any proposition and is
always a allowed to win. His good for
tune is sure to have its effect on the
greenhorn whose purse-strings fly
open and whose money flies out. The
gang of operators who rendezvous at
DOwd's have for the past few weeks
availed themselves Of the services of
Prof" Tom McAlpfne, alias "Soap,"
the gentleman whose exploits in the
priZe-ring have secured for him the
additional title of "the cove wot lost !"
In this case, however as the sequel
shows, "Soap" was "the cove wot
wOn.n
When victim is found, the amount
of his capital being ascertained before
hand, q similar amount is placed in
the hands of the STALL" in case 1t
may be necessary for him to cover the
pile of the victim or "raise" him.
This money is the joint property Of
the gang of operators, and must never
be TOUCHED, no matter what the row
may be. 1t is the capital necessary to
the scheme, and without capital the
work cannot be profitabIy carried on.
- "a THOUSAND DOLLAR STIFF"
During the past few weeks busi-
ness has been very dull among the
s'top-and-bottom" men, and when
one of the cappers rushed into Dowd's
last Monday efternoon, and whisper
ed: "Clear out! Marion's coming
down the street with thousand dol.
lar stiff p there was much joy among
the gang, and those not wanted start
ed into the street. "Soap" remained
behind; Dowd took 500 from the safe,
handed it to "Soap," and that worthy
donned his linen duster and straw
hat, and retired until wanted. Marion
soon after entered with portly look.
ing English gentleman, who looked
like q banker, and might have been q
lawyer. He was "from New Zealand,
by Jove ~ and was "going to the
HAmerican Centennial ~ and "do"
the country generally. Marion intro
duced his new friend to Dowd; all
hands drank, and the conversation
turned on everything except gam
bling, 1t being understood that
that topic could not be in
troduced until "Soap," in his
part as "stall," should come in and
set the ball, or rather the dice, roll
ing. A few minutes passed, "Soap"
was anxiously looked for, and did not
come. Then the conversation Jagged;
. the old gentleman began to talk of
going, and Dowd walked casually to
The door, and looked out for "Soap,"
but no "Soap" could he see. Then a
few minutes more passed, Dowd look.
ed at Marion; Marion looked at Dowd,
and their glances seemed to say:
"where in can he be ~ The old
gentleman finally became restive;
positively wouldn't stay any longer,
and finally left.
WHERE'S soAP?"
No sooner was he gone than Marion
bolted one way, Dowd another, and
every inquiry was made for the miss
ing and hitherto guileless "Soap;"
but, alas! "Soap' could not be found,
and as a fact, has not been since seen
in san Francisco. In fact, professor"
Tom McAlpine, it has been since as.
certained. kept very dark on Monday
night, and on Tuesday morning left
for the Centennial. To say that the
"bunko" boys are weeping and wall
ing would be using very mild term.
Since "Soap' left they have stood
about, too weak and miserable for
work, because all their capital is gone,
and have done nothing but pray for
some catastrophe of Nature that would
throw the person of "Soap' within
their reach. Alta.