The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-11-09
A Sharper Skinned.

victim landed almost pennilesS at twelve
o'clock in search of consolation and a
q drink. To gentlemen who sit in front
of the green-topped tables nightly and
take in greenhorns he is tolerablv well
known. Rural dupes who have CHANGED
to meet him in New York or Philadel-
phia know him to their SORROW His
name is Thaddeus Pratt, or more famil-
iarly ''Poker Tad"
Philadelphia having proven rather a
months wherein victims came to gaze,
Mr.. Pratt fell into rather an impecunious
condition. He managed to retain his
diamond breastpin, however, and 4 suit of
very elegant clothes of pronounced pat
tern, but his purse was very
flat. He declared repeatedly that
Philadelphia was the "meanest
town in the country for work."
and when his funds reached the low ebb
of seventeen dollars Mr.. Pratt determined
to emigrate for some western cline,
where victims grew on roadside bushes.
Mr.. Pratt took a portion of his seventeen
dollars, or, as he would more elegantly
phrase it, seventeen cases." and betook
Hughes, on SAMSON street, above Eighth
He made an investment on a horse race.
He bought "Maid of Athol," and walked
into Eighth Street almost 5000 dollars
richer.
Mr.. Pratt felt jubilant over his luck,
and, after taking sundry drinks. he went
to the Broad Street station and pur-
chased a ticket for Pittsburgh. On the
trip westward his ''luckn ran high. He
got into the confidence of clerical-look-
ing young man at Altoona, and relieved
the young man of 800 at a friendly game
of poker In Pittsburgh an ancient
farmer. who thought he knew more
about cards than Mr.. Pratt, left his peck
etbook, with the latter, after learning
that four kings were slightly inferior to
four aces. The purse contained a trifle
over $500. To avoid any unpleasant
complications, Mr.. Pratt purchased a
ticketfor MaSsillon, on the Pittsburgh
Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. In
that thriving little town Mr. Pratt was
fortunate. He formed the acquaintance
OF a clgarette-young-ma who, up to
the time he met the genial Pratt, was
possessed of a very handsome gold watch
and chain and 5000 in cash. When Mr.
Pratt said ''ta-ta'' and started for the
railroad station, bound for Wooster, the
clgaretteyoung-man was watehless and
penniless. In Wooster, a sophomore
belonging to the University, who knew
more about Euclid than he did about the
geometrical possibilities of .sthree card
monte,' fell an easy victim to the tune
sofz SJ0-the last remittance from lov-
Ing father. These few windfalls gave
Mr.. Pratt an excellent start, and for a
weel1}afterwards he made three or four
similar strokes. eventually swelling his
capital to .abouts $3.50. Fort Wayne
proving poor field for successful oper-
.ations, Mr.. Pratt thought hswould start
seast again. He bought ticket for To-
'.ledo, on the Toledo, Wabash & Western
Railroad, in order to AVOID meeting any
OF the gentlemen who had swelled his
.pocketbook, and who might possibly say
something rude. After leaving Toledo
for Pittsburgh without any particular
incident, Mr.. Pratt thought it about time
to look about fora fresh victim. He
found one at Altoona, or at least he
thought heidi. A tall, verdant looking
chap, with ''greeny' written on every
featlire, entered the car and seated him
self beside Mr.. Pratt. .'Greeny''
Immediately opened channel
for -acquaintanceship by asking Mr..
Pratt what time the train would reach
Philadelphia. Mr.. Pratt told him, and
remarked that the crops were LOOKING
beautiful. Mr.. Verdant said they were,
and added that railroad riding was
''pesky bothersome.n Mr. Pratt agreed
with him, and proposed a friendly game
OF "keards" to while away the time.
Mr. -Greeny was willing, and deck
being produced by the gambler, the two
began at game of "Old Sledee." On
the second hand Mr.. Greeny remarked
that if he was playing poker he would
sge Si0Q on his hand. Mr.. Pratt looked
at his own hand and said that he believed
thatlt was Worth that, too, and backing
1T by producing the cash. The victim
covered it promptly, and then, throwing
down trade dollar, said, Just for luck
i II bet that win your money"
s. Mr., Pratt at once threw down a silver
dollar to take up the challenge. The
ring Of the metal was a great deal clearer
than that shown by Mr., Verdant. 1t
attracted Mr. Pratt's attention. He
picked up the coin and examined them.
"Let.us bet on our hands," said he, i'm
patiently. THAT coin of yours is no
good
Yes, it's, said Greeny. .rm within,
to bet $500 it's good, an don't you for
get it."
zsAIr. Pratt picked up the dollar and
eNMnined it carefully. TWAS of a dun
leaden color, and when thrown down
h'td1no ''ring" whatever. Mr.. Pratt saw
chance for a stake. I'm bet $500 it's
a,eounterfeit coin, said he, bringing out
three 500 bills. GAN right" replied
Greeny, producing the same amount.
Il bet that the coin is good silver, and
will leave it to the conductor
Agreed said Mr. Pratt, and the
card stakes We're added, making the
wager $500 each.
The coin was held by the gambler
natii~ the conductor came through the
CA. He was asked to decide the bet
the seontemptuous glance was given the
COM Without any close examination.
III the worst ever saw" said he; ga
nil nd man couldn't get stuck on that"