The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-05-14

1 had a couple of hours lounging to do I
easily fell a victim to his tolls.
My newly-found friend beckoned to a
cabman, and before I could fully make up
my mind, or even utter one word of expos
tulation, l was seated alongside him, and
we were whisked up town at a rattling
pace, until our conveyance stopped up with
q sudden jerk at the door of a quiet-looking
restaurant.
We had the Yellow Label, as nv friend
called it, and as it was really good wine 1
felt bound to order a second bottle, when
an acquaintance of my friend Joined us,
and l was duly introduced to him. This
friend would insist upon a third bottle of
wishing my young Sandusky acquaintance
joy over his good fortune in winning such
a large prize in some lottery.
"Eggy," said he, 81 guess I'll have an
other go at fortune. Ihave a few dollars
which I can spare, and maybe I should
have luck if you will only favor me with
your-and your friends company"
81 Ion mind, old fellow" was the re-
ply. "Guess l want to get cash for my
check, anyhow, but l WON'T play any more,
as 1 am going home to Sandusky as soon
as possible"
"Come on, then,' said the other, "here's
q cab at the door. l am in q hurry, and
can't stay more than half an hour, play or
not play"
I suppose it was the wine-Yellow Label
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found myself in a cab, and in a short time
was ushered into a small apartment fitted
up in office style, and my young Sandusky
friend presented his check for payment.
The party in charge was very polite, and
begged my Sandusky friend to wait a few
moments until he procured a counter sigma
ture of some other official before handing
out the cash. Meanwhile the other friend
said he would try his luck, and ~depositing
a ten-dollar bill on the desk drew q ticket
@,A - - sAA14 d.
won. I saw him paid out fifty dollars, and
l then began to a k an interest in the
game. My Sandusky friend asked the man
in charge if he would give him credit
pending the arrival of his winnings from
his check, and as he prepared to play he
formed me that if followed his example,
and invested the same amount as he did,
we could win as much as would pay all
our expenses and leave us a nice balance
in our hands on landing at Sandusky.
Perhaps it was b effect of the Yellow
Label stuff, or perhaps the fellow mesmer-
lied me-, but I unfortunately accepted his
advice and drew out a ten-dollar bill, and
we won fifty dollars each. One of the
party then suggested that bottle Of wine
after partaking of a glass, my Sandusky
friend whispered me that he was going
now for a thousand, which he would add
to the Thousand already owed him.. Again
l am forced to make the sad confession
that l resigned myself blindly to his ad-
vice; but luck did not seem to cling to him,
as he won and lost by turns until he COM
menced, as he called it. to plunge. OF
course, 1 plunged too, and my big roll of
bills, amounting to over $500, soon dwin-
died down to a very small sum, until to my
surprise 1 found myself compelled to
borrow from my friend. His finances were
drained out as well as my own, so he
whispered me to take a chair and wait TO
him for a few minutes until he should re-
turn with the cash requisite for US to take
out our revenge.
So 1 sat down and saw my young San
dusky friend politely bowling to mt as he
took his departure. 1 think l pulled nerv-
ously at my whiskers, and it began to
dawn upon me nat all was not as straight
as it might be. 1 was thus engaged when
a colored man rushed into the room and
breathlessly informed me that he feared
the police were at the front door, and I had
better get out quickly by the back way, and
take a cab to a place where my young San
dusky friend awaited me.
yielded automatically, aud after a half
hours drive in the uptown portion of the
city, my cabby pulled up and handed me
my small hand valise and said 1 was to
wait at this spot until he went for Mr..
Hawley, whom he had instructions to drive
back and join me at this particular place.
/ hadn't even the presence of mind to take
Uuc uuIlDeT VI budU EdU, NY utluu was III
such a disturbed state; so / patiently watt
ed for Hawley, who never turned up, al
though the shades of evening were ap-
preaching and the lamplighters were be-
ginning to illuminate the district.
l suppose it must have been that Yellow
Label business which SO obfuscated my in
tellectual faculties. 1t was quite dark and
l was beginning to attract the attention OF
the passers-by before it fully dawned upon
ME that l had been cruelty swindled. See
ing a colored lamp in the distance which
told me l was in the vicinity of a police
precinct, l instantly rushed TOWARD it to
state myg grievances.
l have a very great respect for the police
force, but with all due regard for that
highly intelligent body, the officer in
charge only smiled at me when recounte
my adventure, and, as he seemed to throw
some doubt upon my sanity and ~jocularly
remarked that, in his opinion, a good
square sleep might take down the swelling
in my head, l produced the only evidence
of the swindle in my possession-a num-
bered ticket.
This seemed to lave little effect, as this
very incompetent officer only folded his
arms on the desk, and smiled at me more
and more.
$50 home, boss" aid he, land when
| you next take a trip here from Sandusky,
learn that it isn't safe to stop and chin in
the streets with every one who SAYS he
knows you, and, above all things, keep g
safe distance between yourself and the
bunco steerer."-N. Y. Cor. Louisville COur-
Ter Journal.