St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-01-05
TOO MUCH FOR HUNGRY JOE.
The Prince OF Confidence Men SwIndled
bv q C0w.Boy.

by . Cowboy.
A few weeks ago a man arrayed il
store clothes, slouch hat and blue
spectacles registered at a fashionable
hotel 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 gar.
ments were the product of ready-made
clothing store in Abilene. and they ad-
ded slightly to his general bucolic ap-
pearance. His hands and face were
tanned, he walked with the parentheti-
cal gait of one whose legs had been
curved by years spent in the saddle,
and his bearing was in other respects
indicative of the wild Western border
man. Mr.. Ashley speedily developed
other tendencies 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 luggage. His
accent was a peculiar blending of En-
gllsh and Western types of speech. He
had weak eyes and was in consultation
with prominent physician here, while
stopping for 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 occupation beyond horseback
riding at unesrthly hours of the morn
ing, visiting his man of medicine in the
afternoon, and lounging about the i'm
mense and richly-gilded rotunda of the
hotel in the evening. He was bounti-
fully supplied with cash, and he ex-
pended it with considerable iberality.
He smoked good deal, but drank lit
tie, because his doctor had objected to
one habit and absolutely forbidden the
other, by reason of its effect on the pa
tents eyes. Many people about the
hotel drank at the expense of Mr.. Ash
ley, but he seldom indulged himself in
more cheering beverages than lemonade
and vichy.
One day Mr.. Ashley strplled through
the lobby of the hotel in tie company of
a young man whose face i well known
to the regular promenaders of Broad
way. This young man is always fault
lessly dressed and clean shaven. He
has prominent features and peculiarly
thin and compressed 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 . 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.
"Mr. Ashley. how long since you
have been in New York;" queried the
gentleman behind the diamond stud.
Near eight year." responded that
aninformed gentleman. Never was
here afore, and never since"
.Do You know the person who just
"Yes. 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 stran-
ger; SO we sat together. Seems to be
a nice sort of chap"
nave uO uOuUt VI tudt, COutiuucU
the clerk, with 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 man slowly, and with some aston
ishment. "Well, I'm 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 inno- |
cent took out a large pocket-book filled
TO repletion with money, drew from its |
inner recesses about $500, and deposited
the wallet, with the balance of its con-
tents, in the hotel safe. His companion
viewed this proceeding with passive
face but cleaning eye, and the two
went out together. Mr.. Ashley returned
70 the hotel just in time to take his
ride on horseback. He slept
until about four in the afternoon. Then
he drew $500 from his wallet and left.
'sYou are fully warned" observed
he clerk, as he handed over the
land it is your own fault if
Tou lose any money to Hungry Joe"
Correct" responded Mr.. Ashley,
'tufing the bills into his pocket.