The Helena independent., 1889-01-24
LEFT IN THE SOUP.
A Booster Betrays the Confidence OF
His Employers and Leaves
With a Roll.
THEY WEEPS AND WALLS.
Painter Eng and Clever Confederate
Tackle High-tor-.uck With Dis
astrous Results TO the Own
ers of the Game.

About $50 o'clock last evening "Paint-
er" Eng, booster employed at Crosby &
Fishers gambling rooms, escaped with
$40 which he "won" at the hlgh-for-luck
game, the same layout at which Murphy
recently got away with hundred dollars.
The scheme was successfully worked by
the painter" and although Fisher had a
vague apprehension that something was
wrong, he was squarely beat at his own
business. A reporter for the ISDEPKsD-
ENT approached a booster for some en-
lightenment on the subject, but was
snubbed by that distinguished individual.
The scribe then stepped into the den, with
the aforesaid booster n close second.
A number Of dissipAted tramps and hard
looking characters were carelessly loung-
Ing around the games and noticing the
harmless looking young man enter, whom
they mistakably thought had few dollars,
several began 10 win" One booster the
| reporter noticed taking from a plethoric
tin box handful OF silver dollars, and
walking up TO game began playing his
y No .1s sSs OF as 9Ss
proprietors on" 10 the unofending young
| man and one Of the latter personages
stepped up, but the reporter broke the con-
yersation with Good evening, sir, are you
the proprietor?
"Naw, l amt the proprietor"
MT. Fisher, the proprietor. then chipped
In with:
"What'n HI do you want In herep'
The reporter Informed him he was look
ing for news, and having heard that one OF
bis employees abscOnded with funds he
would like TO hear II such was the case.
"Naw, there amt been no money stole
here" replied the proprietor. land II there
has been II wasn't your money, no how.
What paper are you rep0rtin' for Y
On being told the INDEPENDENT, he
grew very warm In the collar, and In
language more aggressive than polite said:
"Well, look q here; that d-n lNDEPEN-
DENT has been paying too much attention
TO my business lately and think the best
thing you can do Is TO get out Of here right
A molly gang OF roughs had by this
time gathered around the item chaser, only
waiting the signal 10 forcibly eject him.
But he assured the insolent little proprie-
tor that he was making no disturbance and
would go out when he felt like IT,
'lf you don't get out OF here In minute
you'll find yourself on the sidewalk and
there will be a disturbance"
II is needless 10 add that the reporter felt
like getting out In hurry, so bidding the
proprietor good night and pleasant dreams
he left, congratulating himself that he es-
capped alive, as he never before got into
such tough looking crowd.
Mr Fisher was OF course In anything but
q pleasant frame OF mind over the loss OF
bis $40. The way II happened was that
| the booster brought "sucker" into the
room and worked" him at the high for
| luck game: the ssucker" lost of course and
the booster won. After the :sucker" lost
ABOUT $40 he quit, while during the same
time Eng scooped in $40, and left the
business followed him. Together they
walked down Main street with Mr.. Fisher,
who suspected something wrong, bringing
up the rear at a respectful distance. They
stopped In front OF sA-
loon on the corner OF Sixth avenue
where Fisher Joined them. The sucker
was posted and acted In a manner which
led Fisher 10 believe the booster was work
ing his man In grand style. IL was un-
doubtedly the intention OF the "Painter'
to skip when he got down Main street. but
as he noticed Fisher following he changed
his tactics and after taking n drink all
three retraced their steps up town TO play
some more. They did not enter the Edo
RADIO this time, but stepped into gambling
sucker" had occasion To walk to the rear
and the booster not TO lose sight
OF his man went out with
him. A moment later Fisher went out
but there was no sign OF the booster; he
had skipped. Great comm0tion followed
as the very clever Mr.. Fisher realized he
was duped. Three or four trusted EN-
ployes OF his were at once sent out TO skir-
nish for the absconder, but mt last ac-
counts the "Painter" was not caught The
only way the money can be recovered Ia TO
forcibly take IL from Eng II found, as the
decision In the Murphy case leaves tbs
sure thing games without any recourse 70
the law.
Eng is a Scandinavian, OF whom It is
said he was ut one time a minister OF the
gospel In Butte.