The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-12-13
TOO MUCH FOR HUNGRY JOE.
The Prince of Confidence Men SwinhIet
by a Cowboy.

Dy a COh.hDN.
A few weeks ago man arrayed il
store clothes, a SLOUGH hat and blu
.spectacles registered at a Fashionable
hotel on Broadway as B. Ashley, o
Abilene, Kan. The stranger has Jus
come in by the Western express from
Chicago on the Erie Road. His gar
ments were the product of a ready-made
clothing store in Abilene, and they adj
ded slightly to his general bucolic ap
pearance. His hands and face wer,
tanned, he walked with the parentheti
cal gait of one whose legs had beer
curved by years spent in the saddle
and his bearing was in other respect!
indicative of the wild Western border
man. Mr.. Ashley speedily developed
other tendencies of the prairie type. He
insisted upon going out for exercise OF
horseback every morning shortly after
'daybreak, and upon these occasions he
employed his own rawhide bride and
his well-worn Mexican saddle, which
had formed part of his luggage. His
accent was a peculiar blending of En-.
glish and Western types of speech. He
had weak eyes and was in consultation
with prominent physician here. while
stopping for month in New York on
his way to Europe to put himself under
the care of the most eminent oculists
abroad. Mr.. Ashley seemed to have
very little occupation beyond horseback
riding at unearthly hours of the morn
ing, visiting his man of medicine in the
afternoon, and lounging about the i'm
mense and richly-gilded rotunda of the
,hotel in the evening. He was bounti-
fully supplied with cash, and he ex-
pended it with considerable liberality.
He smoked a good deal, but drank lit
tie, because his doctor had objected to
-one habit and absolutely forbidden the
other, by reason of its effect on the pa
;tient's eyes. Many people about the
hotel drank at the expense of Mr.. Ash
ley, but he seldom INDUCED himself in
more cheering beverages than lemonade
and vichy.
One day Mr.. Ashley strolled through
the lobby of the hotel in the company OF
a young man whose face is well known
to the regular promenaders of Broad
way. This young man is always fault
slessly dressed and clean shaven. He
has prominent features and peculiarly
thin and compressed lips. He lives
handsomely and always has plenty OF
cash. With his new-found companion,
MIR. Ashley, the weakened child of the
guileless West, occupied a seat in the
bar-room for some little time. Upon
this occasion Mr.. Ashley departed from
ibis usual custom sufficiently to assist in
the liberal absorption of champagne.
When his Broadway friend went away,
Mr.. Ashley sauntered again through the
aoffice of the hotel. He was beckoned
by one of the clerks.
''Mr. Ashley. how long since you
have been in New York;" queried the
gentleman behind the diamond stud.
Near eight year" responded that
'uninformed gentleman. Never was
here afore, and never since"
DO you know the person who just
left you?"
Yes. Met him two nights ago at
the Madison Square. | couldn't buy a
seat, and he offered me one of his.
Said his friend hadn't come, and he
would be glad TO accommodate a stran-
ger; so we sat together. Seems to be
q nice sort of a chap
beS' nv NtOAbb VI llislts SOIllHuCO
the clerk, with a slight air of superior
knowledge, not Unblended with sar-
casm. THAT young man is Hwtyry
Joe, one of the most celebrated conf
,dence operators in America"
''YOu don't saw drawled the West
ern man slowly. and with some aston
ishment well, I'm darned."
He went thOughtfully away That
night the young man with the thin lips
and the handsome clothes called for
Mr.. Ashley after dinner. As they came
through the office the occidental inno-
cent took out large pocket-book filled
to repletiOn with money, drew from its
inner recesseS about $500, and deposited
the wallet, with the balance of its con-
tents, in the hotel safe. His companion
viewed this proceeding with a passive
face but cleaning eve, and the two
went out together. Mr.. Ashley returned
to the hotel just in time to take his
morning ride on horseback. He slept
until about four in the afternoon. Then
he drew $500 from his wallet and left.
''1Ou are fully warned" observed
the clerk, as he handed over the
amount, land it is your own fault if
you lose any money to Hungry joe"
Correct" responded Mr.. Ashley,
stuffing the bills into his pocket.
His next appearance in the hotel was
a little after midnight, and this time he
put $500 away in the wallet, with the
declaration that the New York sharps
might be pretty stiff on bunko, but they
were little behind the times on draw
poker. In my country" he explained,
1.-TWO deuceS and bowie will open a
ajack pot every time"
Mr.. Ashley passed several days in
quiet and seclusiOn. A full week went
by before he drifted out again with his
companion of the compressed lips.
The next day after that he drew round
$1,000 from the safe, and seemed an
noyed when the clerk smiled a broad
and knowing smile 'sNo game ever
phazed me. said Mr.. Ashley. in dog
ged way, land man who can hold up
his end with cowboys isn't going to be
bested by any broadcloth brigade that
was ever Matched" There was lull
of eight or ten days in the proceedings.
and then Mr.. Ashley drew another
$1,000. A couple of DAYS later he drew
$3.50 more. That afternoon he went
for drive with his gentlemanly com
panion. His face had been suffused
with sadness all the morning. but il
was noticed that he seemed somewhat