The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-04-16

boxes out Of deep pocket in his over.
coat and placed them in his lap. The
young man put away his paper and eyed
bis nsighbor, who pulling out roll
Of bills from his vest pocket, selected q
note and placed ii in one Of the pill
boxes.
do you suppose you could select the
box containing the bill?" he asked Of
the young man with smile, and a
look that seemed to say, Let Us be
sociable."
Don't think I could" laconically
replied the latter pulling his NOUS
tache.
The stranger himself picked out tn
box, took out the bill and put 80
note in its place. This time, however,
a corner of the bill was left sticking
out after the cover had been put on tho
box.
"Now do you think you could pick it
out?" he said, showing his teeth.
"Of course I could, replied the young
well, if you will give me = dollar, 1
let you try"
"Oh, no, wouldn't do that. You're
not sharp at all. You've left corner
of that bill sticking out of the box so
any fool could pick it out"
"Why, of COURSE" said the sharper,
apparently confused by the discovery.
"How could I make such blunder ?"
Thereupon he took out tho $40 bill and
put in its place bright, new $40 note.
The corner of the bill stuck out as be-
fore, but the man pretended not to
notice it.
"Now will you try r." he continued,
after wiping his forehead with red
handkerchief. Give me a dollar and
take your pick you've got q chance
to make $40 in clean money"
The young mans face did not show
the least animation at this declaration.
If there was the beginning of smile
hidden under his moustache it did not
reveal itself when he answered.:
You are stranger to me. I don't
want to take $40 out of you: it wouldn't
be gentlemanly in me to do so. If we
were old friends the case would he diff
ferent. But see plainly you are not
used to the wicked ways Of this world.
You are not sharp. You have left the
corner of that $40 note sticking ont Of
the cover just as you did the other.
You ought to 60 and work on farm
awhile, you ought"
The perspiration poured from the
sharpers forehead. He had caught q
Tartar, and had had hard time of it
too. The red-headed young man. took
the boxes out of his neighbor's hand,
and, after returning the $40 note, said :
perhaps you would like to try Your
hand at picking ont the lucky box (?
I'll put this $50 bill in this one and u
$lOnote in this box. Give me S. and
you shall try your luck"
The man reluctantly paid over the
money, and after the young man had
shaken up the boxes in his hat, took up
one from which the green corner of a
note appeared. When he had pulled off
the cover he found it contained only a
piece of revenue stamp. His face fell
at the discovery.
Try it again, said his tormentor.
He tried it again, but with no better
luck.
"Take the lot," laughed the young
man, pouring them into his neigh
bors' lap.
The swindler opened every box, but
rot sign of bill appeared.
Here are the bills safe in nv pock-
ct, said the bright young fellow, pro-
ducing the notes from his vest pocket
and shaking them in his neighbours face.
"The next time you want to try your
game on stranger, don't pick out a
man who is in the same business as
yourself. Ta!ta!"
The red haired youth was ah expert
confidence man from Frisco.