Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-05-18
THREE.CARD MONTE MEN,
How q Poor Clergyman was Taken in
by the Gamblers.

Dy the G8mOlerSs
Eli Perkins writes as follows to the
Chicago Tribune: The reason why l
urge upon every one, however smart,
not to put too much confidence in his
own smartness, will be seen further
on.
Yesterday 1 had to wait several
hours at Monmouth, ILL.,, a station on
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
road. Monmouth has been frequent
ed by three-card monte men for years.
1 have always known it, have often
seen them there, and have often writ
ten about them.
Well, yesterday they were there
again. One of them with a Canada
Bill dialect, wanted to show me some
strange ''keerds" that he got up in
Chicago.
What were you doing up there::"
l asked, knowing that he was a 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-keerd monte man.
Got neal ruined. But I grabbed the
keerds, and I'll show you how they
done it."
"Never mind, boys" 1 said; 81
know about it. I know the whole
racket. Now, I'll keep quiet, mind
my own business, and let you try
your monte-game business on some
one a little more fresh"
The monte-boy saw at once that I
was posted, and soon turned his at
tention to a good-looking, jolly, young
and innocent clergyman in the depot.
In a few moments l saw that the in
noeent clergyman had become deeply
interested. His interest grew as he
watched the cards. They were three
ordinary business cards.
81 believe l can tell which card
has Willoughey & Hit on it," said
the innocent clergyman.
"All right-try it, said the monte
man, Topping them about.
"There, that one," said the clergy
man, smiling.
Sure enough he was right.
81 don't see how your poor father
could lose all his money at such a
simple game as that" said the cler-
gyman. why, your eyes can see
the cards all the time"
"Suppose you bet S. that you car
TELL" suggested the monte-man.
'All right; I'll risk it," said the
clergyman, ''though 1 don't like te
win money that way"
The cards were turned, and Of
course the poor, unsuspecting clergy.
man lost. Again he tried it, hoping
to get his S. back, but he lost again.
Then he put up his last dollar and
lost that. Then, seeming to realize
his situation, be put his hand to his
head and walked out of the depot.
ITO think" he said, ''that 1, {
clergyman, should get caught at this
game. Why, l might have known il
was three-card monte. I've no re-
spect for myself" and he wiped hi:
eyes like a man who felt the mos
acute condemnation.
"Why don't you complain of thu
scoundrel," / said.
81 would, but I'm a clergyman
and if they should hear of my sin ant
foolishness in Peoria, I would be re
lieved. My poor family would suffe
for my SINS"
"Then I'd keep quiet about it,
said ''but let it be a lesson to you
never to think you know more thai
other people"
''But they've got my last dollar
and I want to go to Peoria. 1 mus
be there to preach on Sunday" SAT-
the innocent suffering man.
"Can'tyo borrow it of some one?'
I asked.
mo one knows me, and I dom
like to tell my name here after thi
occurrence" said the poor man, hal
crying.
every well," 1 said, s'hand m
your card, and 1 will let you have s.
and you a send it to me at the Pal
mer House, Chicago, when you ge
to PEORIA" and 1 handed the poo
man the money.
A moment afterward 1 spoke t
the agent at the depot about the wick
edness of these monte-men, and toll,
him how 1 had to lend the poor cler
gyman IS to get home.
l.''And,you lent him $5?"
eyes, l lent the poor man tn
money"
swell, by the great guns!" an
then he swung his hat and yelled t
the operator:
"Bill, you know that ministerial
looking man around here!"
"You mean the capper for thret
card monte men don't you? Bi
~Keyes-Missouri Bill"
eyes. Well, by the great guns
he's the best man in the whole gang
he's just struck old Eli Perkins fe
s.. 1t does beat me what blankety
blankety fools them newspaper fellel
are!"
Hungry tramp, at a rich man