Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-05-23
Mr.. Merryweather Gives . Few Poiats
on Policy.

"singular, the ignorance of some
folks about the policy racket" said MI.
Merryweather, who had Just come down
stairs from his semi-daily interview
with Uncle Garry and his tame tiger in
the Wesson building, at Griswold and
Congress streets.
"Well. now.' said n customer, whom
Mr.. Merryweather wa getting READY TO
shine, "I'm one of the unlearned.
Can't you give me a point or twoT'
"Cosse | can; but don't you know
nohin' about policy?"
"Not the iirst letter OF the alphabet
"Sho."
"Fact.'
r.Well, never s'posed there vas so
much ign'rance in this world; but f
YOU amt a-guyin' me Ill give you a
starter"
"Crack ahead"
:Policy shops is very common in De-
troit-white and black-and some OF
'em make big money. The fellers that
runs 'em gifts twenty per cent. of all
they eit out of the suckers. They have
ropers-in all round town and you can't
hardly strike a saloon in some parts OF
the city that don't write up policy
books"
"And what's a policy book?"
1t was with a plying expression OF
countenance that Mr.. Merryweather re-
Piled:
.'Why, a book-a policy books a.
a-you-oh, dunn it it's jest sheets of
paper that they write the figures on,
with a piece of tin tween the sheets to
make two copies, with the help of some
black stuff. One sheet is sent to the
main Office and the other, why the book
writer he keeps that to work up his per-
centage on. But l was ago'n to tell you
about the game. You see, at the office
where the drawin's is they put numbers
from one to seventy-eight in the wheel,
aud twelve of them numbers is drawn
out. Now s'pos'n' you've got q sad
dle-"
"What's that9:"
"What's what: a saddle:?"
eyes"
Swell, you play three numbers to
come out OF the wheel. but only two of
'em comes out. That's a saddle and
rays a dizzy OF S1.50 for fifteen cents.
Fellers play saddles more to cover cost
than to win big money, because two
numbers is Of co'se more apt to come
out than three.
"Now three numbers is a gig You
know there's twelve numbers drawed
out an 'fyou catch three of EN- your
pig takes 5000 for 81, or $40 for five
cents. That's the lowest ante you can
put up-tive cents.
"Then there's a .horse'-that is, four
numbers; N if you hit 'em you git $500
for ST.
"Ancther racket is q capital That's
two out OF the first three numbers. If
you play number one and number five
and them figures ONE out in the first
three that shows up, you git 800 for
five cents.
"That's all I've learned about policy.
'cept that the Teller that plays it gener-
ally gifts left. If he makes a strike once
he's cert lin TO go in heavier and in the
end he'll be beat, sure's your bawn.
"non't you remember Ross that used
to keep the railroad ticket Office in the
Russell House? Well, he struck policy
once for 5000, but his luck was too
good-it broke him all up, and he
played it SO wild after that hit that he
went dead broke, and neyer's come to
the front sence.
mo sir, dom you tackle policy, #
you know when you're we'll off; m if
you've got any boys q CROWN up tell
'em to learn the burglars trade b'fore
goin' into policy. The Teller in States
PRISONS better off than the Teller that
once gone on policy."-Detroit Free
Press.