Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-07-08


Probably the bunko steerers Who con
duct the game in tho dwelling In ths
rear OF the Presbyterian church on ths
corner Of 18th street and Second aveuus
will have concluded by this time thai
the venerable and beneveleut-lookinG
old gentleman, clad in ministerial blach
and With white necktie, whom they @
kindly introduced to their hauuis fol
the purpose of selling him valuable
edition OF Tenuyson's poems, 10 a greater
sharp than the smartest member of theiI
own detachable fraternity.
The gentleman referred to is a distin-
Ruished clergyman from the western part
Of New York. By some Of the peculiar
methods in vogue among bunko men
they had possessed themselves of his
name and address. and while be was
leisurely strollinR l4th street he was pp-
preached BY a well dressed and gentle.
manly young man who called him by
name and stated that be was the pub
Usher of a new and elegant edition of
fennysou's works, which he was selling
at ridiculously low prices, and invited
the Clergyman TO go with him and iu-
spect the book.
The minister. though now q resident
OF the bucolic districts, was brought up
IN the city Of New York, and, in fact,
has often preached in the church men,
toned above. Though simple hearted
and good man, he is thoroughly CONVEX
SAINT With the tricks and devices of the
unROdly; and while his newly-made
friend was still speaking to him the
of Charles Francis Adams
and Oscar Wilde flashed across his mind.
What happened he yesterday related to
ne Truth. He determined to see the
matter through, however. and agreed to
accompany the Young man. Upon their
ARRIVAL at the place named number of
sood looking and RentleLnxnly appearing
men were fouad discussing the topics Of
he day. A copy of the new edition of
[ennyson was produced. II was ele- |
,antlv bound and illustrated, and the |
clergyman was soon deeply interested in |
Is contents.
He was aroused from his abstraction |
" hearing one of the eentlemanly party |
xclaim. IN loud tone:
Well, you've won clear $1,000; will |
ou try your luck again?"
Looking up, he sac his friends assem- |
He'd around what is popularity known as |
ne layout" and upon the board lay a |
luge pile of greenbacks. Seeing his at |
ention had been attracted, the dealer |
addressed him and invited him to Join |
he game.
This gentleman" said he, pointing
o one of the number, "has won 1900. |
nd you may be Just as lucky"
When he said this, continued the old |
it brought to my mind an
Incident which happened good many |
ears ago. was in Albany, on my way
o my home in Western New York, in |
ompany with an old Quaker, when We
Eere approached by dapper young man
rho wished to sell US accident insurance
tickets for $1,000, for which be would |
My charge US a quarter Of a dollar.
Art thou connected with this road?"
inquired my Quaker friend. ~ am,"
eplled the young man. Then guess
viii not buy the ticket. II there were
DING 20 be any accident thee would not
esirs to insure rue so cheaply."
Remembering this incident, turned
the man who had asked me to try my
1ck and said:
Il am a stranger to you, and you
ave no reason to care anything about
no; why are you SO anxious that /
hoLld win thousand dollars of your
noney?'
This rather nonplussed him, but after
little hesitation he said:
But, don't you see, stand chance
( winning thousand from your"
No you don't, for / haven't got a
dollars about me-"
THAT don't make any difference"
% replied; "we'll take your note if you
,se."
l thanked them for their kindness,
ut said they would have to excuse me,
nd prepared to take my departure.
Before ! left the young man who had
rst met me expressed hope that 1 did
ot bear them any malice. To which |
eplied that. on the contrary, l was
realty pleased to meet gentlemen who
'ere so benevolent and generous as to
o willing to let total stranger win q
dollars of their money.
They whispered among themselves
nd appeared to be considerably per-
lexed, but offered no opposition to my
eparture; but when / reached the
treet they all came to the door and
'atched me until came to q down.
own car.
This adventure, continued the old
with a chuokle, reminds me
{ an incident that happened to men,
or of the Legislature from my county
everal years ago. He was approached
4 the same way, and concluded to see
he fun out. He told the men that he
Ias a member of prominent st. Louis
house, bat had very little
eady money in his pocket. He would
lay II they would accept drafts on his
ouse. To this they agreed, and be kept
)sing ard drawing drafts until his os-
ansible losses were more than $4,000,
Ihen he got up and told them he thought
q had not been fairly dealt with, and
aid he intended to telegraph to the firm
nd have tho drafts stopped. The gam
lers tol0 him he should not leave the
ouse until the drafts had been sent for
'ard and accepted. He the pulled ont
is card and handed it to the leader of
be gang. saying:
Boys, You probably have had lots of
IN, and know have. Idon't happen
o be member of any st. Louis firm,
mt I've had 70 much entertainment IN
our society that I'm willing to open a
Ottls OF wine with you. and wish You
'etter luck next time"
The gamblers looked very crestfalleu
{ seeing their golden visions dissipated
n this manner. but they yielded grace
ully to the inevitable, and my friend
eparted in triumph.
SIX MONTHS IMMIaRArIoN.-Ar resume
4 the immigration and tonnage to Ore
on and Washington Territory shows
he number of passengers reaching the
Columbia river and Puget Sound BY
.<oav, (ap tho Erux 90 - \