The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-03-22

why, Tapley. my boy, shake
When did y,u get down from Nortl
Adams@
"Tapley Is more than ever impressed
with the extreme ir.endliness of stran
gers in the big city. but is especially
surprised that any one should know hi
name. The steerer then explains will
a smile who he is, or rather who he il
not, and asks affectionately after Tap
lev and all his friends. He let's the
countryman do most of the talking, anc
thereby gains clue II much of the
la ter's personal and family history
This he uses so deity that he is soor
completely in Tapley's confidence, anC
makes the latter really believe that hi
has met fellow townsman. The steer
er does not hurry matters. He lead
his victim by easy stages to the trap Sc,
for him, walks with him toward the
Joint as they talk. Near the door of the
latter, which is always a drinking sa
loon, the steerer says:
"'By the way, John, II you're going
tack again tomorrow, as you say. you
might take up something l have or
dered for nv uncle and the folks. II
will be big favor, and will save me
the ne ,essjtv of utting short my visit,
as feared ] W uld have to. You see
want to stay few days longer on
some private business. The packages
are right in here now, | guess.
They enter the saloon, where the
bartender has been expecting their com
ing for some time.
"Have those packages come for me
yet? asks the steerer.
".No, sir; not yet responds the bar
tender.
".Ah, that's funny re;oins the
steerer. They ought to be here by
this me- Then he turns to Tapley
and SAYS: Lets take a drink and wait
a little while.
THE bartender produces the liquor.
and the steerer catches a glimpse OF a
dice box near the cigar lighter, calls
for it, and egins to toss about the
ivory cubes listlessly. He produces a
five dollar bill, meantime, and tenders
it in payment for the drinks. This act
is simply prearranged signal, and an
accompiice see NC the bill, suddenly
opens the front door, and dashing in as
if in hurry, inquiries of the bartender
"'Can you change me tive-dollar
bill?'
1.-THE bartender laughs pleasantly.
i can change one bill. he remarks, but
this gentleman also wants one changed.
| can't accommodate BOTH
1.-The new conner studiously avoids
recognizing his confederate. He SIM
ply says, with marked suavitv.
"'Oh, well, no matter! The gentle
man was here first He's entitled to
the change just jumped off a Third
avenue car moment ago because the
conductor could not change more than
a two-dollar note. | have no doubt |
can get the change next dOor!'
Not to be outdone in gentlemanly
behavior by stranger. the steerer, who
in tow, replies:
won't you join us, sir? We were
lust having social glass together when
you entered.
1.-The confederate hesitates about &C
ceptng the invitation, being "a perfect
stranger, you know but at length, as
a happy compromise, he says:
"Wel, | Tell you what I'll do, I'll
throw YOU for the drinks, and the man
who loses paws. That wi settle whose
bi viii be changed, too"
1.-The two sharpers agree to this and
the dice are thrown. The countryman
looks II, and, as matter OF cours >,
sees the new conner stuck for the drinks
The loser pretends to be anxiou to
throw again for satis action. The
st erer whispers contidentialy to the
countryman that he wi give the stran-
ger all he wants, and proceeds to intro
duce the game that is intended to Heece
the g y. 1t is called top and bottom,
and the sic 4rtr illustrates it to he sup
posed stranger. He losses the three
dice on the ounter and count the spots
on the top of each. Then he turns them
up ide d wn and counts the spots on the
reverse side, and adding both Totals to-
gether finds they make twenty-one. The
con ents to play the W
game after little parley, and the steer
err throw again, and to the apparent
surprise of the con ederate again OBJ
tains twenty one. The confederate con.
sid RS this wonderful coin cidence and
exc aim:
"'See here. I'll BIT You box OF
cigars you can't do that again
"Done! It's go, cries the steerer,
winking at the countryman. The box
is shaken and the cubes tossed on the
bar and counted. Again the spots foot
up twenty-one. Countryman Tapley is
both interested and mvstified. and, OBJ
serving this, the confederate leaves the
victim alone with the steerer to prepare
the bait that will draw him into the
game.
just wait a moment till wash
my hands, he says, and I'll bet you
again.
'.He retires to the rear of the saloon,
turns on the water, and washes his
hands long enough to give the steerer
time to explain to the victim a common
place fact about dice that few but pro-
fessional sharpers are generally aware
of. The Steerer throws the dice half-a-
dozen times, and each time the result is
twenty-one. Then he shows the coun-
tryman that the arrangement of the
spots is such that no other number can
be possibly thrown, if the top and bot
tom spots be added. The countryman' s
face beams with sudden enlie hten-
ment as the circumstance dawns upon
him.
Why, it's dead sure thing every
time; don't you see. says the steerer,
jubilantly. That fellow who just came
in has got more money than brains.
Wen win q lot of his cash from him
easily
1.-The confederate rejoins the group at
this stage. His manner is not so suave
as at the outset. He has become very
irritable. in fact, and swears in a most