The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-11-08

AAA0t - "lO10 lily uSUdAu U0COIleS
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
stinctive]y to select the right ones. It
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.
The whole thing is done by mail. There
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. confident 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. A.
ter the one or the other there is music;
cards are proposed. My husband,
myself and my 'lady friends
who usually post as sisters
of myself and my husband, are always
willing. and in 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, ins'nu-
ating servant has served wine enough
one. The victim is almost invariably the
proposer. There is always a 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 gamb!in, instinct when at
home, and is very rarely winner,
never a heavy one, until toward the
close Of the sitting. Our victims'go 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
talnment when we bid them ''good-
night" or ''goodmorning." 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?"
mo one knows better than I that
some men are not card players. Young
men always are. That is, they. like TO
be considered card-players, and espec-
A"'I PAAuO CAlOIAIoClVC0 Ol1 tuCll dOllICy
poker. We like to foster that impress
But pity them sometimes, for know
the poor fellows can ill-aford 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. some
times think the lesson will be good
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 web
who do not play cards. My plan is moth
ing more nor less than absolute sWin-
ding. have been deserted and left
without money to reach my home hum
dreds of times. Myself and my chill
dren have been left on the verge Of star
walton as many more times. My pocket
has been picked times innumera BILE
while l have been temporarily stopping
in the city to do some shopping. have
been found lying ill at boarding. house,
where have room for the purpose,
on hundreds of occasions, and always
without friends and unab 9 to send home
for assistance because my family have
discarded me. have tears and pitiful
ceOtAOo Ill 0tOCA L1ittb 1dI Cly ldll W lOuCl1
the hearts of the susceptible, and thanks
that fill to certain extent the gaps
make in pocket-books. OF course, these
schemes can only be worked with
such persons as myself or
my husband knows are unac-
quaiuted with me or know my story and
my husbands profession. They serve
admirably my purpose, and have added
thousands of dollars to our store. and
have actually bought us our house and
educated our children. It is a shame
full business to be engaged in, but it has
been so successful as to enable me to re-
flute the assertion thai woman has no
mission She has ifshe cares to de-
grade herself and exercise her faculties
as do i> the watering places in sum-
mer, in the city in winter"
'But the clandestine mectings?"
care for the purposes I have indi-
Gated alone," interrupted the little wom-
an. DO you belleve an adventu ress
can be true wife and good woman?
She can. Let us co."