The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-04-29
SWINDLED.

SWINDLED.
There were four Of us In the party-a ban
manager from st. Paul, two Englfshmen 20
ing out tut on the plains to hunt, and myself
train bound for Glyndon, in the Red Rive
valley: That was as far as the train went 4
those days. We had been discussing tn
strange things that happened OCCASIONAL,
out in the Western world, and our converse
ton received the silent attention Of two 9th
CT people beside ourselves. One listene
was q tall man, in ordinary dress, with ,
-shaven face, excepting in SO far as tina
ne wore what the Americans sometimes cal
"a chin whisker,' and over one eve he hai
green shade. The other was q small
elderly man, whose dress and general an.
Pearance stamped him as being frontiers.
man. The tall man sat In the section ahead
OF us, on the next seat to us, as il for the
purpose OF better hearing our conversation
Not in an offensive way, but rs men listen tC
general conversation in public place. The
nttle man sat on the opposite side of the car
leaning out OF his seat across the passage in
cur direction.
swell, yes" said the bank manager. in
answer to question put by one of the hunt
ers. "once was. It was during the week
OF the State Fair at st. Paul. At that time
an the farmers, or grangers, as we call them
sometimes, are in the city. The State Fair
Is good deal like your agricultural shows
l guess it's the same thing under another
name; anyhow, it fills the city with agricul-
turists OF every kind and every kind Of bust.
ness man that has to do with them, On
the Thursday afternoon, just before the
Dank was going to close, I was stand
ing inside the COUNTER. near the teller's
old prairie hay-seed. The town was half
full OF them, and this fellow was a type of a
certain class of them. He had on an old
pair OF trousers tucked into pair of boots
that probably had never seen backing since
they were bought, and buffalo coat thrown
DaGk, exposing flannel shirt without any
collar, but set OF with bran new green
satin tie. He had, I supposed, bought this,
and the new hat he wore, to fix himself up
little for the fair. He wanted polishing up
badly enough. He wore also pair of large
spectacles with broad horn rims To look at
MN you would see at once that he was one
OF those everlasting bores that talk you to
death about crops, and argue all night about
the merits of rival mowers. He lounged up
70 the teller, and said in voice that sounded
like clap OF thunder in q vinegar.iar.
Say mister! are you running this yere
"sWhat is't you wantp asked the teller.
CURLY, who was about to check his cash and
'"Waal, I'll tell you how it is,' and then
he turned and addressed his conversation to
me. You see, Squire, I've got some animals
down TO the fair here. There's two on 'em
Is the finest steers out of the hull crowd, and
they han't given me no prize for 'em nei
ther; but I'll be go1doned If you or any
square man won't say as my two steers
mind you, Pm speaking of the two red steers
amt the best in the hull lot. They are,
Squire, and you'd better believe it,
"'Well, haven't got anything to do with
sol
and we're going't to close the bank now:
office hours are about up
"'YOu amt got nothing to do with them. I |
know, Squire, 1 know that well enough; but |
don't crowd man. Lookee here, Tve sold |
them steers, and six more, to a Chicago buv-
er, for matter OF 800. It's dirt cheap.
Squire, and you'd say it if you saw them |
steers of mine. Mabbe you've been down
to the fair"
"'Yes, yes, 1 said, anxious to get rid of
him: Il saw the steers, and the cows,
"Why, them amt cows; them's Durham
Calves he began, when I struck in and
said:
"'Look here, don't know anything about
your steers or your animals, anyhow; what's
your business with meT
"'Well, Squire, 1 hearn you was the handi-
est chap at your business on the hull street,
and want you to go slow bit, for amt
much up to your business folks ways, and
I'll tell you what Pm a-running for.' He
pulled out long, greasy-looking pocket
book from the depths Of an inside pocket,
md began to unite the Irvine that fastened
me this yere check. Now, amt much on
the count myself, and want to know il this
s q square deal. He says that's the same
hing as $3.50 in greenbacks. Now, want to
know if that's so, for no man amt going to {
AXE away them steers if there's any shenana.
=, ohA,,f nlo |
Tour sweet life on that, SQUIRE
II examined the check, which was drawn
IN the First National Bank, Chicago, and I
igned w. r. Chitty. It appeared to be in {
lue form; but though had heard the draw
RS name did not know him, and so I told I
"sWaal, don't know q heap about him.
Myself he said. Il sold him some cattle
asst fair time, and he paid me part in cash
md part in one of them checks, and I got the {
money all right; but the checks worn't the
anne color as this we're one, and didn't saw
lothing about no National bank on to it. It
lad two mems name on it, and one of their 8
pictures In the corner, SO as folks could know I
lin, guess, il he didn't act SQUARE mn to | I
he handle with them.'
"s A different bank, that's all. You saw the a
heck he gave you was paidi'
~ this yere's all right, why, guess I'll let d
i'm take them steers away on Monday
"'I don't know that it is all right; I onlvsl
oppose so. I can't cash it for you, Ii that's q
What you're AFTER '
"No, no; 60 slow, Squire, amt asking '
on to do nothing that amt regular: but {
nebbe you could do something with this we're q
hing in q day or SO, if leave it with YOU, as 4
you'd fetch the dollars and cents out Of It. s
b, Squire? How's thatf' n
"s I'll send it to Chicago for collection. If d
on like;' and couldn't help laughing 1t t
be scared look he put on at the proposition. c
"'Send it to Chicago! Hold up there, b
quire. I don't suppose but you know your v
usiness; but I have heard they're . mighty b
lick lot down to Chicago D
$50, that will be all right, you needn't be d
fraid,' said; for he evidently thought the z
eople of Chicago were on the lookout for y
reenhorns. %
So WAL, Squire, il you're satisfied, I am; n
ut be mighty keerful them beats down to *
hicago don't swindle us both out of them y
We hundred and fifty dollars. 1t would K
,me mighty hard on me just now, for Pm q
Ding to put up a new house on my place it
NUN IN, Kapdivohi Cor,ntv and tho old mo 1 n