Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-02-01
Two knaveS and Their Dupe.

a MAN who had evidently never before
met any of the business agents of "Can-
ada Bill" !" related to Times reporter.
with great accuracy of detail, an account
of one of the clever operations OF
sleek brace of knights of the road,
of which he was witness. 1t is the
old story with slight variations, but
as long as victims are so plentiful
there will be readers. When south
bound train was within fifty miles of
Cairo, large, ine-looking man boarded
1t, entered the smoking-car, took a seat in
comfortable way, and presently passed
neighbors. Conversation fol rwed, o dur
ing which the liberal cuss stated that he
was a Southern planter, and had lost
5000, 600 exclusive of negroes by the war.
a gentleman from Maine, going South to
buy plantation, was one of the smokers.
Planter took lively interest in him, and
told him he had three plantations
for sale and would let him have one
for mere song, as he could not rely on
hired men. About this time gray
haired and shabbily dressed man entered.
He pretended to be cattle-dealer from
TaS WaV a,Mgsh ,Mgho had just sold 800 head of cattle
cattle in those odf sdfd gfhGeeYank gtfhe Yankees out this
money! as his people called them. 44fiss 4fs
had spent $500 in st. Louis, but he
didn't care so much for that as for 5000
he was chiseled out of in a saloon.
Planter asked if it was stolen. No;
Texas man was too smart for that,
he said, at the same time eXhib-
iting a big roll of bills. Planter was
anxious to know how the money was
lost. At last Texas reluctantly pulled
out deck of greasy cards, remarking
that he lost his money on those identical
papers, and that he had been trying to
learn the trick himself ever since, but
couldn't make any headway. If he could
only do it as sleek as the fellow who took
him in he could make a fortune when he
got home. Planter remarked that he had
often heard of the game, and thought 1t
took an expert to do it. Meanwhile
Texas continued his clumsy practice. AT
length the planter turned to the gentleman
of Maine, and told him he had notion
of beating Texas out of few hundred
dollars, and then giving it back to him
The old man from Texas said he didn't
believe any cussed Yankee could raise
800. Maine was nettled, and said he
could name the picture card with a boy
on it for five dollars. Texas told him he
had better save that to buy cheese and
crackers, if that was the size of his pile.
Maine was riled, and offered to bet ten
dollars Planter became indignant at
Texas because he had insulted his friend
from Maine, and offered to bet him 500
that he could pick up the ticket with the
boy on it the first time. Texas took the
bet and lost. The bystanders laughed at
him, and planter bantered him for an
other 500, and of course won again.
Maine was by this time well in the tolls.
Texas appeared to be disconnected
at his losses, and remarked to Maine
that "his BROTHER the planters,
eye-sight was too good for him,
but he would wager fifty dollars that he
(Maine) could not light on the boy the
first time. Planter told Maine to take
800 out of the conceited fellow, just for
luck, and to teach him lesson. Planter
was to hold the stakes. Maine concluded
so do it. Texas wouldn't handle those
:" keerds'' again for less than 81 900.
Planter advised Maine to come up, as
there was no chance for him to lose.
Maine agreed. Planter saw $500 mere In
Names wallet and advised him to shove
that up also, as it would be his last chance
to get bet out of Texas. Up went the
81 700, over went the card-but not the
one with the boy on it. Planter appeared
to be deeply grieVed, but he handed the
money to Texas all the same. Texas
laughed little and soothed their wounded
feelings by telling that he had black
bottle in the rear coach and would go
back and get it. Planter told Maine he
was too hasty; he ought to have won.
But" said he, q if you buy one of my
plantations will see that you have plenty
of provisions to feed your niggers, as
have Just been to Louisville with 800
hogsheads of sugar, and have laid in
more pork and flour than need, and will
gladly share it with you"
Shortly afterward the planter and the
man from Texas slipped off the train.
The former was George DuvaI, formerly
of New Orleans, but now of Chicago; and
the gentleman from Texas was an old
monte man named Sanford.--ChacdgO
Times.
THE tobacco crop IN many sections of
North Carolina pays better than cotton or