The evening world., 1888-01-14

began TO think my Southern friend was no
judge of the weed, for 1t was the vilest roll OF
cabbage leaves / ever struck in the shape Of q
cigar.
~ waited ten Minutes, and then called for
the bill. His breakfast was $1.50. l told the
waiter the gentleman would return, and paid
my OWL bill. i didn't propose to shoulder
all the man indebtedness.
well, of course, he didn't show up-and
I have been e~xtravagantly swindled. Pm an
ass. The bank has no account with Il. /.
Davidson, and the check isn't worth a cent.
I'll give it to you if you want it. But l would
give 800 TO get even with that man. Do you
know who he is ?'
We'll, / have a very strong notion" said
I, THAT one of our bost-known sharps, Ike
Vail, the King of the Confidence Men, has
rung in his little game on you. Would you
know him again if you saw him ?"
know himP Among q thousand " said
the Justice.
/ put the men at work hunting up Vail. He
lived a good part of the time. for he changed
his quarters about, with q plump little
woman who didn't more than come to his
elbow. She had q furnished room up on
Sixth avenue.
One of my men engaged a room on the
opposite side of the street and watched the
house. The woman was Swallowed whenever
she stirred out. But we didn't get anything
for four days.
In the evening of the fourth day Vail nae
the cheek to come home with the woman, and
stayed there all night. Sometimes the best
of them will slip up and do a foolish thing.
1 suppose Vail thought the Judge would not
say anything because he would hate to admit
being caught by such Il thin skin game. I
had kept all Of the story out of the papers, 80
he hadn't got on to it that way.
l was told, and the next morning I came up
to Sixth avenue and stationed myself in a
doorway where I could command the house.
Vail and the woman came out about 7 o'clock
and walked over towards Fifth avenue.
l slipped after them and picked up with
the pair as they reached the avenue. Vail
saw me.
GOOD morning, Captain, - he said with a
grin.
Good morning, Ike. I hope you're not
in O hurry because / want YOU"
What the deuce do you want me for ?' he
said.
well, 1 think I may want you to go to a
place where they sing twice"
81 don't NOW as l want to CO." he said.
you'll come along with me now, any
how. Drop that woman and come quietly or
Pll~put the handouts on you"
"Oh, I'll come. Go ahead. Liz" he said
to the woman, without losing his good-na-
tured way.
She lost hers, and gave me a good dose of
first class b~illingsgate. But I had no time to
bother about the woman. l took Ike down,
put him in q crowd of twenty men and then
brought in the Judge. do you see any,
body there that you Know /"
His eye rested at once on Wallis big figure
and he shot over towards HIM.
That's the man, Captain" he exclaimed,
e1citedly. ~ want my $75, you villain"
Pm afraid 1 can give you any $75. my
good fellow. Aren't you mistaken in your
man ~ said Vail.
To cut the story short, he was committed
and sent to Sing Sing for one year and six
months.
~ am very much obliged to you for this
favor, Capt. Gastlin. You are very kind, -
he said to me when leaving the courtroom.
~ saw him q few days after his year and q
half was up downtown. Hello, VAIL" /
said, ~ thought you were in Sing Sing"
Got out two days ago." he said, with u
laugh. lawfully glad to see you 30 soon,
Captain. You did drop on me, after all,
didn't you ?"
Vail has not played any confidence game
for some time that I know of, and possibly
he has repented of his evil ways. But it was
a satisfaction to get the oily chap and squeeze
him. Still he was as smooth when he saw he
was fairly nabbed as when he played limo.
cence. 1t would have been a little more sat.
i~sfaction if he had shown he was mad.