The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-01-28
MADE MS LAST TURN.
A Once Noted Three-Card Monte Mar
and His Final Trick.

: In the early days of the Uniol
4 and Central Pacific roads, says tn
a Alta California, there was no NOR
J. noted character on the road thar
George Duval. He died recent,
e In st. Louis, and one of his friends
t who stood over his coffin outlined
} his character in the simple sen
3 tence:
HE was monte man from way
} back"
He was, indeed, and, perhaps
something more. Sharper and gam
bier as he was, he had generous in.
stincts, and did many deed o1
goodness.
1t is told of him that one day
when the Union Pacific overland
ran into Cheyenne, poor emigrant
woman got off the cars with dead
child in her arms. She had no
money. The pathetic story of her
misfortune reached the ears of
George Duval, and, Fastening to
her relief, he furnished the means
for the little ones burial, and then
emptied his pockets of greenbacks
into the woman's lap.
II can get a raise in day or
two," he said, "and you are in hard
luck" And not waiting for thanks,
he turned away.
This was the bright side of his
character. He had another that
was not so attractive. On one of
his trips from Cheyenne to Reno he
fell in with some gentlemen from
Boston, one of whom was tender
foot of pronounced type. For some
reason George selected the tender
foot for a victim. It may have been
the inherent wickedness of his
heart, or it may have been his love
of fun. Any way, he attached him
self to the tenderfoot, who was as
demure as innocence itself, and
filled his astonished ears with won
derful stories of the rough West
and its lawless ways.
"Do you know" he said, II had
a curious experience on this road a
few months ago."
Indeed p interjected his friend.
eyes; | fell in with a gang of
sharpers who fleeced me out of
several hundred dollars"
They were alone in the smoking
room at the time, and George de-
termined to utilize the opportunity.
"You see" he continued, "they had
a game they call three-card monte,
played, as the name implies, with
three cards. I have. been trying
ever since to learn how it was done,"
and with these words he produced
three pieces of pasteboard. "The
trick consists in guessing certain
card" And the trickster manipu-
lated the pasteboards.
"That ought not to be difficult"
suggested the interested tenderfoot.
Il think I could pick the card every
time"
The fish was hooked. An hour
the red-headed rascal
emerged from the smoking-car with
81 900 of the innocent's money in
his pockets.
1t was Oh the Central Pacific that
Duval and the famous Canada Bill
met for the first time. They were
each a prince in their calling, and
by strange coincident each had {
set down the other for sucker"
Finally the gentleman from Can 6
ida opened his game, and Dpval {
ook in the situation. He at once t
'at down opposite the card manipu- |
ator, and commenced betting heav- t
ly. He picked out the right card G
very time. In very few minutes S
5000 of the Canadians money had l
'assed into his hands. By this time b
he dealer felt convinced that he I
lad encountered a master in the Il
BUSINESS. But he was too game to y
queal. b
"Well, shall the game 60 on?" a
inquired Duval. i
Il think not" replied the ratified d
amber. "But I'll tell you what a
II do. I'll put up the champagne II
t Reno if you'lltell me your name" t.
with pleasure. I'm George Du- t
al" s.
II thought so, by heavens and l a
m Canada Bill" it
The two sharpers, thus strangely b
let, shook hands, and from that Il
loment commenced partnership ST
lat many a fleeced victim on the
verland had reason to remember.
For years they followed the Cen
al and Union Pacific, making at
leir headquarters, by turns, at e'
maha, Salt Lake, Reno and San a
rancisco. Finally their depreda- al
ons became SO numerous and the re
against them so general, IN
lat the very strictest measures had
be taken by the railroad lines to ae
d the cars of their presence. In tn
me they found their unlawful bus OF
ess improbable, and finally
it altogether. TO
Duval went to st. Louis, where se
} engaged in legitimate trade. But
is said at times the love of odven- WI