The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-11-09

at his establishment, where her quiet,
lady-like WAYS, her vivacious converse
ton and ready wit served to lessen the
sting of the losses sustained by victims,
particularly when she dealt the cards at
the faro-table or took hand at poker,
casino or cribbage. Her ten years or
married life and the life of gambler
have not materially lessened the charms
of the little Connecticut woman, and
she counts her victims with tens where
her husband counts his with units.
"The Hotel Reporter serves us in lieu
of 'cappers,' said the little woman.
There is no division of profits with the
publishers. DO you never meet gentl.-
men at the hotels who receive myste-
riou5 letters from unknown correspon-
dents? They are always written on ma
terials of the finest, couched in language
not only polite, bnt sufficiently familiar
to induce the recipient to conclude he
knows the sender, though he is wholly
unacquainted. They often take the
shape of invitations to dinner, to the
ater party, or, if an inspection of the
person warrants it, to clandestine
meeting. In the last named case they
are signed by my own or my assumed
name. These are addressed only to
such men as think know me by reason
L
have lived, and who do not know nv
business. Every man is more or less
susceptible and wicked, and is legiti-
mate game to such as l."
you spoke of an inspection warrant
| ing a familiar style OF address. How is
that inspection brought about or Oh.
tained?"
sThat is where NV husband becomes
useful. From the list of arrivals pub
lished we jointly select such ma mes as
strike us as being proper ones to work
on. There is something after one has
| studied lists as have that teaches us IN
stinctively TO select the right ones. 1t
cannot be explained. To those we know
the notes are addressed without investi-
cation. The others are sought out and
inspected at their hotels by my husband
and our course of action is mapped out.
is none ofthe vulgar 'bunko' work done.
There is an air of gentility about the
whole which is especially effective with
young men who wait to see life and
over.confdent in their ability to take
| care of themselves. At our home { al
| ways know them when they come to
dinner or;to join our theater party. AZ
| ter the one or the other there is music;
scards are proposed My husband,
myself and my lady friends,
who usually post as sisters
of myself and my husband, are always
| willing. and i'll ninety nine cases in ev-
cry hundred after we have played whist
or some other game the victims
sometimes numbering three or four
in single evening, propose small stakes.
They usually increase when our insnu-
ating servant has served wine enough
/ ord ura "a f,ol-ar 10 c,1nuactal t,1,o
one. The victim is almost invariably the
proposer. There is always hesitation
among gentlemen in betting against a
lady. This makes our gains come easy
at times, for we always bet recklessly
and lose with poor grace. My husband
curbs his gambling instinct when at
home, and is very rarely winner,
never heavy one. until toward the
close of the sitting. Our victims 90 away
plucked. but the piucking has been done
so cleverly, and almost invariably by the
ladies, as we chat about the possibilities
in the way of gloves, jewelry, fans, and
other feminine luxuries and necessities
resulting from our winnings, that they
leave us with the impression that they
have had delightful evenings enter
night" or "good-morning." They rare
ly think they have been the victims of
professional gamblers"
| But all men are not susceptible to
cards. Are such your victims, too?"
No one knows better than l that
some men are not card players. Young
men always are. That is, they like to
be considered players, and espec-
tally pride themselves on their ability at
| poker. We like to foster that impres.
sion. They are the easiest victims.
But pity them sometimes, for know
the poor fellows can ill-afford their los
ing. Pm not SO hardened but feel for
them sometimes. But my feelings new
er overpower me. They have brought
their losses upon themselves. l some.
| one, and teach them to avoid cards. and
l have repeatedly pointed out this les.
son to them. But it has always been af:
ter they have been plucked.
Now as to those who fall into my wei
who do not play cards. Ny plan is moth.
Ing more nor less than absolute swim.
ding. l have been deserted and left
without money to reach my home hun.
dreds of times. Myself and my chill
dren have been lett on the verge of star
vation as many more times. My pocket
has been picked times innumerable
while have been temporarily stopping
IN the city to do some shopping. have
been found lying i'll at boarding. house
where have room for the purpose
on hundreds of occasions, and always
without friends and unab e to send home
Tor assistance because my family have
discarded me. have tears and pitifu
stories in stock that rarely fail to touct
the hearts of the suscentible, and thank
that fill to certain extent the gaps
make in pocket-books. Of course, thes,
schemes can only be worked Will
such persons as myself O
my husband knows are unac
quaiuted with me or know my story anc
my husbands profession. They eerve
admirably my purpose, and have added
thousands of dollars to our store. ant
have actually bought us our house ant
educated our children. 1t is shame
| full business to be engaged in, but it hn
been 80 successful as TO enable me to re
flute the assertion that woman has ne
mission She has if she cares to de
grade herself and exercise her tacultie!
as do in the watering places in sum
mer. in the city in winter"
"But the clandestine meetings?"
care for the pur soses have indi-
Gated alone," interrupted the little wom
an. do you beneve an adventu res.
can be true wife and good woman;
She can. Let us 60"
/ The Best Remedy.
The Providence Journal, in deep sym