The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-10-21
STREET FAKIRs.
How the swindIer Gave Way TO the
SIugGer.

How the SwindIer Gave Way to the
sIugGer.
New York Letter in Boston Herald.l
Near the Bowery, in Canal street, is No,
192, with a groggery in the basement, a mum.
Der of rascals in the GROCERY, and a variety
OF curious wiles in the rascals. This is a kind
Of headquarters for operators known as street
f~akirs-prize candy peddlers, three-card
monte men and other petty swindlers, They
are usually on vacation while here, having re.
turned from trips to horse races, country
fairs and other occasions of concourse. But
when their money runs out before their play
spell does, they sometimes go to work close
by. Thus circumstance, no doubt. was the
low-browed, u~nshaven, greasy-coated chap
who to-day opened a black bag on a tripod at
che outer edge Of the sidewalk in front of 1872.
He had about two dozen small cubes. wrapped
10 white paper like caramels He took sew
eral 81 and So bills from his pocket, making
as rich a display as possible on a meagre cap
Ital.
~ am going to roll this ERE Sc note round
this ere block Of wood" he said, suiting his
action TO the words, ''and there it is, all done
up neat, and | hold it atwixt my thumb and
iuger," which he unquestionably did. Nov
seep your eyes on II, for I'm going 20 fool
you. | throws It into the pile of blocks-so-
and yer can't tell now which it is"
But We could. for he had dropped II quite
separate from tie rest, and so slowly thai
there could lbs no doubt about its identity
Then lie asked a Observation-Disclosures u stool.
pigeon or not made no difference to the game
Ito pick out three of the wrapped blocks.
THIS was done. aud, Of course, the selection
included the one containing the money. He
laid these in II row. and at that point changed
The prizs for "A blank by delft "palming."
Now. I'll sell the three for half a dollar"
he said, and ratified along with nonsensical
argument until II fool made the purchase.
The crowd laughed Mt the dupe, when he
opened the parcels and found no bank note:
and yet it soon provided other purchasers,
and In fifteen minutes the rascal had taken in
81 A policeman sauntered by, hut did not
interfere. A scrowling pal. by driving off all
the boys, prevented the crowd from reaching
undesirable proportions. The seventh deal
was in progress. 1t was intensely watched
by a fellow who was fully a foot taller, pro-
portionately broader and in~comparably
Drawnier than the gambler. His character
was u~nmistabable by anybody in the least
familiar with New York types He
was a Bowery slugger. If not en-
ployed to whip or eject disturbers in
some concert hall, it was simply because he
had temporarily given up bushes 70 go out
on u spree. His condition was palpably that
Of an inebriety which, by long duration
rather than intensity, filled him from the
tousled hair that stuck through his broken
hat to his toes, that threatened a similar es-
cape from his muddy shoes. His trousers
pockets were empty except for his hands,
Judging by the size of those maulers when he
pulled them out, but an exploration Of his
vest resulted in the discovery of so cents He
rendered the coin and reached for the three
cubes that the swindler had temptingly dis
played, but there was a sudden tendency
on the part of that individual to reform.
mind, l don't say there's So in this lot
he said in a forced, even CHASTITY vein of
pleasantly; "Pl guarantee you that there
amt" and he winked deliberately Mt the
slugger, as much as to say confdentially
between themselves that of course it was
only a sucker that would fool his money
away.
Tn slugger was not to be repealed. He
had made up his mind to play that game to
win. He held his half-dollarf for a second
aloft, with n gesture that made his biceps
distend his coat sleeve significantly, and then
made the silver ring among the little packets.
you lie" and here some of his personally
descriptive words are not quotable: there's
a 81 rag in 'em, and don't you make no mis-
take. Pm a-buying 'em, and the moneys
right inside" He waved his big forefinger
close under the ~swind.er's nose.
This game is for greenies," and the wolf.
t~urned-lamb bleated very mildly.
This games for me-right now-and I'm
awaiting" was the Incorporating growl in
response; "three for belief u dollar. Toss
EN- OVER
The swindler parted rather with the tsn
dollars that he had than take the whipping
that he did not want. He hastily manipn
lated the three cubes, and cringingly handed
them to the slugger, who controlled his fist
with a visible effort on finding nothing in the
fist that he opened, but slouchod away mOlIi,
lied after taking the requisite money ont OF
the second