The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-11-16
TOO MUCH FOR HUNGRY JOE
The Prince Of Confidence Men Swlndled
by a Cowboy.

On the 9th of August a mar arrayet
In store clothes, a SLOUGH hat and blut
spectacles, registered at a fashionable
hotel on Broadway as B. Ashley, o.
Abilene, Kan. His garments were tn,
products of q ready made clothing
store of Abilene, and they added slight
ly to his general bucolic appearance
His hands and face were tanned, ht
walked with the parenthetical gait Of
n whose legs had been curved BY
years spent in the saddle, and his bear
ing was in other respects indicative Of
the wild western borderman. Mr.. Ash
ley speedily developed other tendencie.
OF the prairie type. He insisted on GO
ing out for exercise on horseback every
morning shortly after daybreak, anc
upon these occasions he employed hi:
W rawhide bride and his well worT
Mexican saddle, which had formed d
part Of his luggage. His accent was q
peculiar blending Of English and west
ern types Of speech. He had weak eye:
and was In consultation with a promi
nent physician here while stopping 6
month in New York on his way tc
Europe to put himself under the care o.
the most eminent o~culists abroad. He
was bountifally supplied with cash, and
he expended it with considerable liber.
atty.
One day Mr.. Ashley strolled through
the lobby Of the hotel In the company
of a young man whose ace is vel
known TO the regular promenaders Of
Broadway. This young man is always
faultlessly dressed and clean shaven.
He has prominent features and pecu.
llsrly thin and compressed lips. He
lives handsomely and always has plenty
Of cash. With his new-found friend,
Mr.. Ashley, the weak eyed child of the
gulleless west, occupied a seat in the
barroom for some little time. When
his Broadway friend went away, Mr.
Ashley sauntered again through the
office Of the hotel. He was beckoned
by n of the clerks.
"Mr. Ashley, how long since you
have been in New York;" queried 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 your"
Eyes. Met him two nights ago at
the Madison Square. 1 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 strang-
er; so we sat together. Seems to be a
nice sort of g chap"
81 have no doubt Of that" continued
the clerk with a 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 nan slowly, and with some aston
ishment. "Well, Pm darned."
He went t~houghtfully 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 cont ants, in the hotel safe. His
companion viewed this proceeding With
a passive face but a cleaning eye, and
the two went out together. Mr.. Ash
ley returned to the hotel Just In time to
take his morning ride on horseback.
He slept until about 4 in the after
noon. Then he drew 5000 from his
wallet aud left.
His next appearance In the hotel was
a little after midnight, and this time
he put $500 away In the wallet, with
the declaration that the New York
sharps might be pretty stiff on bunko,
but they were a little behind the times
on draw poker. "In my country" he
explained, 1.-TWO deuces and a LOWE
will open a jack pot every time"
Mr.. Ashley passed several days in
quiet and seclusion. A full week went
by before he drifted out again with his
companion of the compressed lips. The
next day after that he drew a round
81, 900 from the safe, and seemed an
noyed when the clerk smiled a broad
and knowing smile. mo game ever
faxed me-" said Mr.. Ashley in a dogget
wa6, land a u who can hold up his
n with cowboys, isn't going to bt
bested by any broadcloth brigade thai
was ever Matched" There was a lul
Of eight or Ten days In the proceedings,
aud then Mr.. Ashley drew another 81.
0O0. A compile of days later he drew
$3.50 more. That afternoon he went
for a drive with his gentlemsnly com.
panion. His face had been suffused
with sadness all the morning, but IL
was noticed that he seemed somewhat
brighter on his return from the drive
That evening Hungry Joe and two o.
his we'll known Broadway companions
spent several hours in earnest CONVEX
sation with MI. Ashley.
From the table at which they ha(
sat the three young fellows wen
straight to the telegraph ONCE, wher'
they sent the following dispatch:
Postmaster, Abilene, Kan: