Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-03-08
Three-nard Monte Men.

at Monmouth, H., a station on the Chi
cago, Burlington & Quincy road. Mon
mouth has been frequented by three
card monte men for years. | have al
ways known it, have often seen them
there, and have often written about
them.
Well, yesterday they were there again.
One of them with Canada-Bill dialect,
wanted to show me some strange 'keerds
that he got up in Chicago.
What were you doing up there?" |
asked, knowing that he was three-card
monte man and feeling an interest in his
modes.
"Me and pap" he said, "took up
some hogs. We took up pile on 'em,
an made heap; but pap he got swim
died by three-keerd monte man.
Got near ruined. But | grabbed the
keerds, and III show you how they done
it,
"Never mind, boys" / said, 81 know
all about IT, / know the whole racket.
Now I'll keep quiet, mind my own bus
mess, and letyou try your monte game
on some one a little more fresh. "
The monte boy saw at once that was
posted and soon turned his attention 20
q good-looking, jolly, young, and inno-
cent clergyman in the depot. In few
moments | saw that the innocent clergy.
man had become deeply interested. His
interest grew as he watched the cards.
There were three ordinary business-cards
like these:
JOHN OSBORN & Sons,
Piper Hcidseick.
ROYAL BAKING POWDER,
New York.
WEBER's PIANOS,
New York.
II believe / can tell which card has
Weber's pianos on it, " said the innocent
clergyman.
"All Rightly it," said the monte
man, Topping them about.
There that onen said the clergy
man, smiling,
Sure enough he was right.
II don't see how your poor father
could lose all his money at such a simple
game as that said the clergyman. -
"Why, your eyes can see the cards all
the time
Suppose you bet IS that you can
tell, g" suggested the monte man.
"All right I'll risk it, p" said the clergy
man, though don't like to win money
that way.
The cards were turned, and of course
the poor unsuspecting clergyman lost.
Again he tried it, hoping to get his IS
back, but lost again. Then he put up
his last dollar, and lost that. Then,
seeming to realize his situation, he put
his hand toshis head and walked out of
the depot.
ITO think, " he said, ''that /, a clergy
man, should get caught at this game, -
Why, | might have known it was three
card monte. I've no respect for my
self, " and he wiped his eyes like a man
who felt the most acute condemnation.
"Why don't you complain of the scoun-
drel2" | said.
II would, but I'm a clergyman and il
they should hear of my sin and foolish
ness in Peoria, | would be relieved. My
family, would suffer for my sins. "
"Thcn I'd keep quiet about it, said,
"but let it be Il lesson to you never to
know more than other people
But they got my last dollar, and
want to 90 to Peoria. must be there
to preach on Sunday said the innocent,
suffering, man.
Cant YOU borrow of some one?' !
asked
mo one knows me, and | don't like
to tell my name here after this occur
renee said the poor man, half cry
ing.
VERY well, | said. 'hand me you
card and | viii let YOU have So, and
YOU can send it to me at the Palmer
House, Chicago, when YOU get to Peo-
ria, and | handed the poor man the
money.
A moment afterwards | spoke to the
agent at the depot about the wickeducss
Of those monte-men. and told him how
had to lend the poor clergyman s. &c
get home.
"And you lent him five dollars?'
Eyes, Ilent the poor MANTLE money"
"Well, by the great guns.' and then
he swung hish and yelled to the oper-
Gtor;
"Bil You know that ministerial-look-
ing man around here2'
You mean the capper for thrce-card
monte men, don't YOU? Bill Keys
Missouri Bill. y"
Yes
well, 10y the great guns, he's the
best man in the whole gang; he's just
stuck old Eli Perkins for 50. 1t does
beat me what hlaakcty-blank fools them
literary fellcrs arem-EH Perkins In
! Chicago Trjhmt