West Feliciana sentinel. (St. Francisville, La.) 1876-1877, 1877-03-17
A NEW ORLEANS SHARPER ON HIS
TRAVELS.
CChicago Times. ]

A man who had evidently never
J before met any Of the business
agents of Canada Bill" related tt
a Times reporter, with great ac-
cu"acy of detail, an account of one
of the clever operations Of slick
brace Of knights of the road, o.
which he was witness. 1t is the
old sotry with slight variations, bu,
as long as victims are so plent,
there will be readers. When a
sou:h-bound train was within fifty
miles OF Cairo large, fine looking
m,n boarded it, entered the smok.
ing car took a seat in q comfort
able way, and presently passed
around the cigars among his chance
neigabors. Conversation followed.
during which the liberal cuss stated
that he was southern planter,
and had los, 100000 exclusive of
negroes, by the war. A gentleman
from Maine, going south to buy a
plantation, was one of the smokers.
Planter took a lively interest in
him, and told him he had three
plantations for sale and would let
him have one for a mare song as be
could not rely on hired men. About
this time gray~bearded and shab-
billy dressed man entered. He pre-
tended to be catt!e>deafer from
Texas. who had just sold 800 head
of cattle in st. Louis. He hated
the Yankees out this way, and said
they had ,naid him for his cattle in
those old greenbacks-'sGrant's
money" as his people called them.
FL 4, had spent $500 in St. Louis,
but he didn't care so much for that
as for 5000 he was chisseled 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 exhibiting big roll of
bills. Planter was anxious to
know how the money was lost. At
last Texas reluctantly pulled Cat
a deck of greasy cards, remarking
that he lost his money ON those
Identical papers, and that he had
been trying to learn the trick him
self ever since, but couldn't make
any headway. If he could only do
it as slick as the fellow who took
him in he could make fortune
when he got home. Planter remar k
ed that he had often heard Of the
game, and thought it took an ex-
pert to do it. Meanwhile Texas
continued lis 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 after
thy they had had little fun out of
him. The old man from Texas
said he didn't believe any d. d
Yankee could raise 500. Maine
was ncttled and said he could name
he picture card with a boy On it
o: s5. Texas told him he had
)etter save tnaS to buy cheese and
crackers, if that was the size Of the {
'ile. Maine was riled and offered s
o bet $40. Planter became iud.g-
'ant at Texas because he had in
u ted his friend from Maine and +
'ffered to bet him 500 that he t
ouid pick up the ticket with the {
10Y on it the first time. Texas ;
ook the oct and lost. The by +
tanders laughed ut him, and planter ,
him for ano sher 500, and 2
# course won again. Maine was
y this time we'll in the tolls. Tex f
$ appeared to be sconce.ted at |
is loses, and remarked to Maine r
hat his brother," the planters, /
ye-sight was too good for him, i
ut he would wager $50 that he ,
Maine) could not light on the boy :
he first time. Planter told Maine h
, take 500 OUT OF the ccnceited @
slow, just for luck, and to teach b
i'm a lesson. Planter was to hold !,
he stakes. Maine concluded to do i,
!. Texas wouldn't hand e those d
keerd-" again for less than ST. v
90. Planter advised Maine to
ONE up, as there was no chance O
,r him to lose. Maine agreed. r.
'lanter saw 500 more in Names c
allet and advised him to shove
lat up also, as it wonld be his Ias' il
lance to get bet out OF Texas Il
o went the $l7OO, over went the cI
lrd-but not the ono with the q
oy on it. Planter appeared to be :,
eeply grieved, but he handed the -
oney to Texas all the same. Texas d