The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-04-24
HE TRIED THE WRONG MAN
Two Confidence Men Meet and Enjoy .
Ride In . Railroad Train.

Two Confidence Mon Meet and Enjoy .
Ride In . Ratlroad Tra1n.
A tall, red-haired young man with on
innocent face and q black necktie sat
alonein a car seat on one of the swift
flying trains of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road bound for Washington. He had
just begun to read a copy of the Chris
tian Advocate when a benevolent look
ing midd!e-aged man entered and sat
down beside him. For an hour tho
young man read his paper, and tho old
man watched the telegraph poles go by.
Becoming tired of this amusement the
stranger tisheda half dozen little pill
boxes out of q deep pocket in his over
coat and placed them in his lap. The
young man put away his paper and eyed
his neighbor, who pulling out q roll
of bills from his vest pocket, selected a
note and placed it in one of the pill
boxes.
DO you suppose you could select the
box containing the bill?" he asked Of
the young man with q smile, and q
look that seemed to say, Let us be
sociable."
Don't think T could" laconically
replied the latter pulling his nous
tache.
The stranger himself picked out tn
box, took out the bill and put a $40
note in its place. This time, however,
q corner of the bill was left sticking
out after the cover had been put on the
box.
"Now do you think you could pick it
out?" he said. showing his teeth.
"Of course could, replied the young
man.
well, if you will give me q dollar, I
let you try"
ooh, no, l wouldn't do that. You're
not sharp at all. You've left a 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.
GLOW could I make such a blunder ?"
Thereupon he took out the $40 bill and
put in its place a bright, new 500 note.
The corner of the bill stuck out as be-
fore, but the man pretended not to
notice it.
"Now will you try it?" he continued,
after wiping his forehead with a red
handkerchief. Give me a dollar and
take your pick you've got a chance
to make $l9 in clean money"
The young mans face did not show
the least animation at this declaration.
If there was the beginning Of a smile
hidden under his moustache it did not
reveal itself when he answered.:
"You are o stranger to me. I don't
want to take $40 out Of you it wouldn't
be ~gentlemanly in me to do so. If VIZ
were old friends the case would be diff
ferent. But I see plainly you are no.
used to the wicked ways of this world
You are not sharp. You have left tn.
corner of that $40 note sticking out o
the cover just as you did the other
You ought to go and work on o farm
awhile, you ought"
The perspiration poured from tn,
sharper's forehead. He had caught
Tartar, and had had 2 hard time of il
too. The red-headed young man tool
the boxes out Of his neighbours hand
and, after returning the $40 note, said
perhaps you would like to try you.
hand at picking out the lucky box
I'll put this $50 bill in this one and
$10note in this box. Give me S. ant
you shall try your luck"
The man reluctantly paid owe tn,
money, and after the young man ha,
shaken up the boxes in his hat, took III
one from which the green corner of
note appeared. When he had pulled OF
the cover he found it contained only
piece of q evenu stamp. His face fel
at the discovery.
"Iry it again" said his tormentor.
He tried it again, but with no bette,
luck.
"Take the lot" laughed the young
man, pouring them into his neigh
bors' lap.
The swindler opened every box, bu
rot a sign of bill appeared.
Here are the bills safe in my pock
ct, said the bright young fellow, pro
ducing the notes from his vest poke
and shaking them in his neighbours face
1.-THE next time you want to try you
game on q stranger, don't pick out
man who is in the same business a
yourself. Ia !
The red-haired youth was an exper
confidence man from Frisco.
An Tnu,a. Civil who narea