The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-12-15
TOO MUCH FOR HUNGRY JOE.
The Prince OF Confidence Men SwindIcd
by a COw-BOy.

The Prince Of Confidence Men Swindlcd
by a Cowboy.
A few weeks ago man arrayed in
store clothes, SLOUGH hat and blue
spectacles registered at a fashionable
hotel on Broadway as B. Ashley, of
Abilene, Kan. The stranger had Just
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 APP
pearance. His hands and face were
tanned, he walked with the parentheti-
cal gait of one whose legs had been
curved by years spent in the saddle,
and his bearing was in other respects
indicative of the wild Western border
man. Mr.. Ashley speedily developed
other tendencies of the prairie type. He
insisted upon going out for exercise on
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 a 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 Longing 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 liberalitv.
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
TENTS 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
lessly 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,
MI Ashley, the weak-eyed child of the
guileless West, occupied seat in the
bar-room for some little time. Upon
this occasion Mr.. Ashley departed from
his usual custom sufficiently to assist in
the liberal absorption of champagne.
When his Broadway friend went away.
Mr.. Ashley sauntered again through the
office of the hotel He was beckoned
by one of the clerks.
"Mr Ashley, how long since YOU
have been in New York;" quered the
gentleman behind the diamond stud.
Near eight year." responded that
uniformed gentleman. "Never was
here afore, and never since"
'Do you know the person who just
left you?"
Eyes. 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
nice sort of a chap"
81 have no doubt of that" continued
the clerk, with slight air of superior
knowledge, not unblended with sar-
casm. That young man is Hungry
Joe, one of the most celebrated conf
dence operators in America"
"You don't say" 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 a large pocket-book filed
to repletion with money, drew from its
inner recesscs about $500, and deposited
the wallet, with the balance of its con-
tents, in the hotel safe. His companion
viewed this proceeding with passive
face but cleaning eye, 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.
"You are fully warned" observed
the clerk, as he handed over the
amount, land it is your own fault il
you lose any money to Hungry joe"
Correct" responded Mr.. Ashley
stufling the bills into his pocket.
His next appearance in the hotel was
little after midnight. and this time he
put $500 away in the wallet, with the
declaration that the New York sharp,
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 "a bowie will open
n jack pot every time"
Mr.. Ashley passed several days il
quiet and seclusion. A full week wen
by before he drifted out again with hi
companion of the compressed lips