The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-10-04
Three Card Monte Men.

Tribune
The reason why / urge upon ev-
ery one. however smart. not 20 paw
too much confidence 60 his own
smartness VIII be seen further on in
this article
Yesterday ] had ta w4it several
nouns 4t Monmouth Illinois, a sta
ton Oh the Chicago. burlington e.
Quincy road. Monmouth has been
frequented by three card monte men
for years. / have always known It.
and have often seen them there.
Well, yesterday they were there
again. One OF them wi.h Canada
Bill dialect, wanted % show me
some "keerds' that he got up IN
Chicago.
What were you doing Cup there?"
l asked, knowing that he was three
card monte man, and feeling an in
terest in his modes.
Me and pap, he said, took up
some hogs. We took up a pile on
'em an made a heap; but pap he
got swindled by a three card monte
man-got near ruined. But / grab
bed the keerds and I'll show YOU
how they done it.
Never mind, boys, said, Il
know the whole racket. Now. III
keep quiet, mind my own business
and let you try your monte game on
some one a little more fresh
The monte boy saw at once that l
was posted, and at once turned his
attention to a good looking. Jolly.
young and innocent clergyman in
the depot.
In a few minutes / saw the inno-
cent clergyman bad become deeply
interested. His interes: crew as he
watched the cards. Thcrewerc three
ordinary business cards.
Il believe | can tell which card
has Willoughby Il Hill on it, ~ said
the clergyman.
All lught-try it. said the monte
man. smiling.
Sure enough, he was right.
Il don't see how your father could
lose all his money on such a simple
game as that, said the clergyman.
Why, your eyes can see the cards
all the time
Suppose you bet s. that you can
tell. - said the monte man.
All right, I'll risk it, said the
clergyman, although ! dontlike to
win money in that way
The cards were turned and OF
course the poor unsuspecting clergy
man lost
Again he tried it, hoping to get
his five dollars back, but he lost
again. Then he put down his last
dollar and lost that. Then seeming
to realize his situation, he put his
hand to his head and walked out of
the depot.
To think" he said. Il as a cler-
gyman, should be caught at this
game. Why. I might have known
it was three card monte I've TO
respect for nyself| and be wiped
his eyes like "a man who felt the
most acute condemnation.
why didn'e YOU complain Of the
scouudrel p" / asked.
II would, but | am q clergyman,
and If they would hear of my sin
and ioolishne-s in Peoria. ] would
be ruined. My poor family should
suffer for my sins
"Then I'd keep quiet about it, /
said. but let it be a lesson to YOU
never to think that you know more
than other people"
But they've got my last dollar
and I want to 90 to Peoria. ] must
be there TO preach on Sunday, said
the innocent suffering man.
"Cantyou borrow 1t Of some one ?'
| asked.
NO one knows me. and | don't
ike to tell my name here after this
occurrence, said the poor man half
crying.
sVery we'll [ said, hand me
your card and | will let you have
five dollars and YOU can send II To-
me at the Palmer House, Chicago,
when YOU get to Peoria. and / gave
him the money.
\ minute afterward ! spoke to
the agent at the depot about the
wickedness of these monte men and
told him how / had to lend the poor
clergyman s. to gohome on.
and you lent him s..
"Yes, lent the poor man the
money.
well, by the great gun" 4" and
then he swung his hat and yelled to
the operator;
Bill, YOU know that ministerial
looking man that was around the
depot?"
"You mean the capper for the
three card monte men. don't you?
Bill Keys-MissouH Bill2'
Yes"
We'll, by the great guns, he's Just
struck old Eli Perkins Tor s.. IL
does beat me what blankety-blank-
ETY. fools them newspaper fellows
90 -