The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-18
TOO MUCH FOR HUNGRY JOE.
THE PRINCE OF CONFERENCE.-THE
swINDLED BY A COWBOY.
New York Times.I


spectacles registered at fashionable hote
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 garments were the pro
duct OF a ready-made clothing-store In
Abilene, and they added slightly to his
general bucolic appearance. His hands
and face were tanned, he walked with the
parenthetical gait Of one whose legs
had been curved by years spent in the sad
die, and his bearing was in other respects
indicative Of the wild western borderman.
Mr.. Ashley speedily developed other ten
denotes 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 lug
gage. His accent was peculiar blending
OF English 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 oc-
cupation beyond horseback riding at I'M
earthly hours Of the morning, visiting his
man OF medicine in the afternoon, and
lounging about the immense and richly
gilded rotunda OF the hotel in the evening.
He was bountifully supplied with cash,
and he expended it with considerable libe-
raIity. lie smoked good deal, but drank
little, because his doctor had objected to
one habit and absolutely forbidden the
other, by reason Of its effect on the patients
eyes. Many people about the hotel drank
at the expense Of Mr.. Ashley, but he sell
dom INDUCED himself in more cheering
beverages than lemonade and yichy.
One day Mr.. Ashley strOlled through the
lobby Of the hotel in the company OF n
young man whose face is well known to
the regular promenaders OF Broadway.
This young man is always faultlessly
dressed and clean shaven. He has promi-
nent features and peculiarly thin and COM
pressed lips. He lives handsomely and
ALWAYS has plenty OF cash. With his new
found companion, Mr.. Ashley, the weak
eyed child Of the guileless West, occupied
a 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.
"hr. Ashley, how long since you have
been in New York;" queried the gentle
man behind the diamond stud.
Near eight year." responded that unin-
formed gentleman. "Never was here
aforo and never slncpc
do you know the person who just left
your"
"Ycs. 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 stranger; 80 we sat to-
gether. Seems to he a nice sort OF chap"
81 have no doubt OF that" continued
the clerk with a slight air OF superior
knowledge, not uBblended with sarcasm.
.sThat young man H. Hungry Joe. one Of
the most celebrated confidence operators
in America"
"You don't say" drawled the western
man slowly, and with some establishment.
Well, Pm 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 innocent took out a
large pocket-book filed to repletion with
money, drew from its inner recesses about
$500, and deposited the wallet, with the
balance Of its contents, 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 in the afternoon. Then he
drew 5000 from his wallet and left.
"You are fully warned" observed the
clerk as he handed over the amount, "and
il is your own fault il you loan any money
to Hungry joe"
Correct" responded Mr.. Ashley, stuff
ing the bills into his pocket.
His next appearance in the hotel was q
little after midnight, and this time he put
1900 away in the wallet, with the declara-
ton that the New York sharps might be
pretty stiff on bunko, but they were little
behind the times on draw-poker, "In my
he explained, "two deuces and
a bowie will open a jack pot every time"
Mr. Ashley passed several days in quiet
and seclusion. A full week went by before
be driited out again with his companion OF
the compressed lips. The next day after
that he drew q round $1,000 from the safe,
and seemed annoyed when the clerk smiled
Il broad and knowing smile. "No game
ever faxed me-" said Nh. Ashley in a
logged way, land man who can hold UP
his end with cowboys isn't going to be
bested by any broadcloth brigade that was
ever hatched." There was lull OF eight
or ten days in the proceedings, and then
Mr.. Ashley drew another 600. A couple
OF days later he drew 1850 more. That
afternoon he went for a drive with his
companion. His face had been
sufflsed with sadness all the morning, but
il was noticed that be seemed somewhat
brighter on his return from the drive.
That evening Hungry Joe and two Of his
well-known Broadway companions spent
several hours in earnest conversation with
Mr.. Ashley. That geDtleman's weIk eyes
made IL necessary for him to wear his
broad hat well down over his forehead.
When the three young men went away
the merest shadow OF smile played about
the mouth OF the western man. From the
table at which they had sat the three
young fellows went straight to the tele-
where they sent the following
Dispatch
"POstmdster, Abilene, Kan:
"Do you know Benjamin Ashley, cattle
raiseri Telegraph full particulars at my
expense. X. DICKSON,
Z" Brewer House, New York"
The reply was evidently in all respects
and within two days Mr.. Ash
ley received in his rooms at the hotel visit
from the three confidence operators and a
lawyer who is more or less celebrated in
this city. The head porter Of the hotel
was called up into the room after the WIS.,
itors had been there an hour or longer,