Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-07-20
A CLEVER GAME.


How Pieasant-Fsced Young Man Hood.
winked a Crowd in a Bar Room.
Notwithstanding the fact of there being
considerable portion of truth in the
gamblers adage that "there is sucker
born every hour" one portion Of all large
communities is kept pretty tolerably busy,
says the San Francisco Alta, inventiDg
new devices and schemes for defrauding
the public on which they live. Some
burnt children dread the FIRE and others
do not, but it is always safer to spring
a new dodge or story for fear
that the intended victim might
have encountered one OF the old
chestnuts that are now only fit for service
in the far backwoods. II half the in =
genuity that is expended on the corr.
! dence games and thieving tools was put
to Legitimate invention, the labor aying
machines of the world would be doubled,
and the scamps would get rich by benefit
ing humanity instead ef worsting it. One
of the very latest swindling tools has
reached this city, through the agency
OF pleasant-faced, gentlemanly young
| fellow, who is an artist In his business,
but has committed the error of giving
| his "snap" away for too small price.
Saloons are his favorite operating-rooms i,
and not few of the astute Ganymedes
who mash mint and mix imperial punches
! have been landed for small amounts
through betting against his game. A re-
| porter observed the landing of netful
OF victims yesterday morning, and will
unfold for the benefit of his fellow-men
who are liable to be taken in by the same
operation If not fOrewarned.
The pleasant-faced, gentlemanly young
stranger heretofore mentioned walked
into one OF the most swell of Kearney
streets magnificent drinking palaces aud
called for punch. When the concoctlon
was completed he raised 1t to his lips at
the same time that he tossed dollar on
the bar In payment. The coin fell like
the hunk of lead that it was, and the
sound produced by its contact with the
bar was as fiat as the kerchug of a
| freq in striking the water. The sound
| attracted the attention Of two or
three OF the young mans neigh
bors, and they eyed him with some
curiosity, as If wondering what sort of
verdant he was to attempt to pass such
coin. The barkeeper simply glanced at
it and smiled, and waited for the stranger
to produce substitute. The dollar
piece did look disreputable, and no mis-
take. IL was battered and Bruised, had
plug in one corner, and the milling about
the edges was in state of sad decay,
while added to all this was a color that
betokened IL to be lead from Leadvllle,
and no mistake. "What Is the matter?n
asked the patron of the house and pro-
prietor OF the queer piece Of bogus.
The crowd laughed, and the barkeeper
suggested that another coin be substi-
tuted for the bad dollar.
"Oh, that's it, is it," responded the
gentlemanly young man, pretending to
examine the date on his unsavory prefer.
"Well, don't you know that | am glad
you refused it? That dollar is worth five
times its face value to anybody that has
| got common sense"
Two or three of the party grabbed
look at the date and then laughed again.
why you are foolish, young man."
said one OF them pityingly, GAS money,
oushel-oasketful of those things would
not be worth one dime. | thought at
first 1t might have an old date but if if
was coined while Noah was afoat In the
ark II would not be worth more than II is.
which Is simply nothing"
With this the barkeeper fe't impelled
to give the young man some kind advice
TO the effect that he had better not make
any more attempts to pass the dizzy
thing, or he would be liable TO arrest for
showing the queer.
"Inats all right, gentlemen; I'll bet
any Of you $40 that that com is worth five
times Its face value, lust to show YOU
that know what | am about"
| 'Oh, we don't want your money! nut
In the barkeeper; 'just pay for that
urlnk and say nothing more about tn
very well, sir, I'll pay you for the
drink With any sort of money you like.
out when you grow wiser you will be
sorry that you did not take your payment
out oil that worthy, misused coln.n and
win THIS the owner Of the violation of
the law against counterfeit produced
wallet fairly bursting with its hoard of
OILS ana gold, and passed over half
eagle Tor the punch. The sight of his
wealth caught thecro at once, and two
OF tnem Immediately offered TO accent the
pet ne mad proposed a few seconds he
lore. Inc young fellow pretended TO
hesltatei and then insinuated Chat thev
should give him odds on the wager.
very Well since yon are so clever a
nuinlsnatists l will give you chance
l9r your money, | will bet you 500 To
Slo that that coin Is not worth 90 10 anv-
one except yourself OF course. Won can
not be the judge OF its worth as Won are
betting on it.n 'ou Aie
wen, that Is fair, although would
prefer 10 appraise the value of INV own
goods. viii take your wager and leave
NO any common-sense man that you
"Done.n
"Bet me, too, on the same .ermsy,