Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-23
STREET FAKIRS.
Eow the swind.cr Gave Way TO the
Sluggcr.

Sluggcr.
New York Letter in Boston Herald
Near thu Bowery, in Canal street, Is No.
1872, with groggery in the basement, num-
Der of rascals in the GROCERY, and variety
Of curious wiles in the rascals. This Is kind
Of headquarters for operators known as street
fakirs-priZe candy pedders, three-card
monte men and other petty swindlers. They
are usually Oh vacation while here, havingre
turned from trips to horse races, country
airs and other occasions of concourse. But
when their money runs out before their play
spell does, they sometimes go to work close
by. Thus circumsta.i ced, no doubt was the
Iow-browed, unsh.yen, greasy-coated chap
who to-day opened black bag on tripod at
the outer edge of the sidewalk in front of 1872.
He had about two dozen small cubes, wrapped
in white paper like caranels He took sew
eral 81 and 81 bills from his pocket, making
as rich display Us possible On rneagre cap
ital.
II an going to roll this ERE 50 note round
this ERE block # WOOD" he said, suiting his
action to the words, ''and there it is, all done
up neat, anu i hold Is Gtwixt my thumb and
finger" ' aica he Internationally did. Now
keep your eyes on it, for I'm going TO foil
?ou. throws it into the pile of blocks-so-
and yer cant tell now which it is :"
But We could, for be had dropped it quito
separate frori the rest, and SO slowly that
there could be no doubt about its identity
Tbeu he asked a Observation-Disclosures a stool
pigeon or not made no difference to the game
to pick out three Of tie wrapped blocks
This was done and, Of course, the selection
included the one containing the money. He
laid these IN row, and at thatpCint changed
the pIizs for blank by deft ''palming."
"Now, III sell the three for half a dollar
he said, and ratified along with uonsensical
argument until fool made the purchase
The crowd laughed at the dupe, when he
opened the parcels and found no bank note;
and yet it soon provided other purchasers,
and - fifteen minutes the rascal had taken in
IS. = policeman sauntered by, but 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 fellow who was fully foot taller, pro-
portionately broader aud incomparably
brawnier than the gambler. His character
was unmistabable by anybody in the least
familiar with New York types. He
was a Bowery slugger If not en-
ployed to whip CT eject disturbers in
some concert hall, it was simply because lie
had temporarily given Zip business to go ont
On spree. His condition was palpably that
of an inebriety which, by long duration
rather than intensity, filed 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 bands,
Judging by the size OK those mauleTs 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 swiIdler had temptingly dis
| played, but there was a sudden tendency
ON the part of that individual to reform.
"Mind, don't say there's 81 in this lot"
| he said in forced, even CHASTITY vein of
| pleasantly; ''Tll guarantee you that there
| amt" and he winked deliberately at the
| slugger, as much as to say confidentially
between themselves that Of course it was
| only q sucker that would fool bis money
away.
The slugger was not to be repealed. He
had made up his mind to play that game to
win. He held his half-dollar for a second
aloft, with a gesture that made his biceps
distend his coat sleeve significantly, and then
made the silver ring among the little packets.
| "You ie," 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" lie waved his big forefnger
close under the swindler's nose.
| This game is for greenies,n and the wolf
turned-lamb bleated very mildly.
This games for nle-right now-and Pm
| awaiting was the Incorporating growi in
response; three for hellef dollar. Toss
| 'em over"
The swindler parted rather with the two
| dollars that he had than take the whipping
| that he did not want. He hastily nlanipu-
lated the three cubes, and cringingly handed
them to the slugger, who controlled his fist
with visible effort On finding nothing in the
list that he opened, but slouched away molli-
fed after taking the requisite money out oi
the second.