The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-06-03

The AFtful Fakir Again 10 the Front.
Thursday night as an innocent look
ing gent from Round Rock, was pro-
ceeding up Pecan street near Psdgitt &
Wsrmoth's saddlery aud harness estab-
lishment, he was accosted by well
dressed gent, who was affable and
beamed with deep admiration upon
him. The affable gent was none other
than the willy fakir
JOE BURLAGE,
who was blandly tipping the winks,
for the purpose of throwing dust into
the eyes of the innocent individual,
that he might pave the way for COM
fortably ''steering" him into the ski
osk," adjoining Morley's drug store.
'You are from the country, / De-
lieve,n said the cheerful Joe.
eyes, Pm from Round Rock" said
the countrymsn, sstonished at being
accosted by well dressed stranger,
whom he no doubt, believed was one
of our merchant princes who desired
freight hauled to the upper counties.
"Ah, you are the very man want"
said Joe, "I'm in the show business
and want 500 bills posted up in Round
Rock and Georgetown. / would like
$50 of them billed in Round Rock and
the balance in Georgetown. Can sou
do the work for mel"
Eyes, think can if you pay me-"
Every well, we will step up to my Of
flee and I'll see about getting the bills"
Joe accompanied by the countrymsu,
then proceeded up the street to the
''kiosk" mentioned above, and entered
it followed by his companion. When
fairly inside, Joe was happy, and limo.
Gently began to shuttle lot of number
ed cards.
"These are rafting cards." he kind
ly explained. Ppm also in that busi-
ness, and had you been here half an
hour ago you could have made money.
You see there are five cards here and
would have posted you so you could
have certainly won fine gold watch,
and 1 would have bought it from you.
Here are five cards, and you being
posted, would have skillfully tried them
until you got hold of one that would
not easily slip from my fingers. This
is always the winning card"
Just as this explanation was made,
strange to say, in stepped another
WELL DRESSED
fakir, and going up to Joe, bet HIM the
cigars he could guess the winning card.
Joe slyly winked at the countryman,
as the we'll dressed gent drew card.
He won, of course, and bet several
times and always successfully, and sp-
peared greatly elated. He turned to
the countryman and said.
".I'll bet you 50. so or S. 90 that you
can't draw the right card" The willy
Joe at once frightened up and cast in
Vulnerable sly wlnks at the man from
Ro1nd Rock, as much as to say.
SHOWS your time, remember the
card that will not slip easily" But
alas, the countryman wouldn't bite.
On the contrary, he was up to snuff,
and placing his thumb on the end of
his nose and extending his fingers,
gave them few impressive wlggles
and calmly glIded out of the door of
the ''kiosk." Burlsge and his ''fakir"
friend, whom we believe was one Stew
art, were disguised and repaired to the
back room, where they wept and de-
termineo to quit the show business for
ever. The young man from the coun-
try is warned to- beware Of the fakirs
and their rsffles. their numbered cards,
their show business, and their spell
marks, Qmitstion gold pieces. When
they haul out these their object is to
rob you.