The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-09
swindled by Their Own shrewdnoss.

From the Neir York Tribune.
The night hawk cabmen OF this city who
nave helped me nome on those rare occasions
when | have found myself embarrassed at a
late hour by v1luminOus AID complicated
jag, said the son Of a wealthy banker the
otneF day, have often imposed on my peace
loving nature By demanding bigger fares than
N y were entitled 10, before they would assist
me and the Jag out of their cabs and up the
steps OF my fathers 'paatial mansion Once
or twice 1 have tried 10 demonstrate against
tlis eXtortiOn, but the result has never justified
tne eAertlon- 50, on the last sad occasion on
which was Obliged to have recourS- to the aid
OF one OF these gentry, ! employed a little
harmless guile. which worked to a charm.
Here YOUR house. boss. said my driver, as
ne % ened the door. Two fifty's the fare
- Two dollars ami half for ten-minutes'
roe: said |. That's pretty steep. but II you'll
give me your arm up the steps won't kick
about 1t
Certain, boss said he. but you pay before
you ct out, please
SO l fell t. fumbling in my pockets. pulling
out Keys poker chips. cork or two, and lots OF
otner useless odds and ends that will somehow
accumulate in the 1ckets of man VINO has
oten having an unusually good time but my
search produced no money. %, blank it.
suddenly exclaimed 4 have dropped my last
CON on the bottom Of your cab. 1t is a $ gold
piece Strike a match so that l can find it; it's
as dark as Egypt IN here.
fully.
Then bring one of the cab lamps here,
say testify.
Fixed solid to the keb. sir. is the answer.
49,, Wen; then, you help me up the steps and
III get lamp in the house said I.
All right, sir, says the WHY Jehu, with a
grin. Careful now-there's the stsp-easy-
there you are-now take hold of the railing on
that side and lean on me-where's your latch
key: No, that amt it, that's your cigar case.
NOW mere you are in the vestibule-you can
open the inner door yourself and get the lamp
Mhlie look after that horse-he won't stand.
whoa, there, you brute, he shouted as he ran
mmbly down the steps, slammed the cab door,
mounted the box, gave his horse a sharp cut
ana started of at gallop.
Hold on there, | sh uted you thief you've
got my 30 gold piece. I'll have you arrest
But cabby heard not. paused not H dashed
away into tue darkness, and | believe l would
nave parted with my beautiful jag to have had
lie pleasure of seeing him kick himself as he
searched IN vain for that S. piece"
That's not half bad story" said listener.
IL remind, me of an experience that happened
10 bartender In an uptown cafe not Ong ago.
lie was an expert drink-uixer. but not any too
non st, and had quite a fancy for his own
ShreWdneSs. Several of us were watching him
IN the practice of his art one daY, when a quiet
looklng stranger who was standing by the very
END OF the counter, almost within the bar in
fact, stopped down suddenly with an ex-
clamatlon OF surprise, and came up again with
$40 Oil in his haad. The bill was crumped
uD small and had some of the damp saWdust of
the floor still sticking to it. The man smoothed
It out, announced the fact that he had found an
y, and asked if any of us had dropped it. None
OF US had, we w re sure
Hold on said the bar-keep, beginning to
slap his pockets and 90 through his clothes
Was 1t crumpled up small when you found it,
'It was said the stranger in a surly tone.
You saw that when picked tup.'
No, didn't said the barkeep. but find
nave lost a $40 bill that tucked away in a little
wad IN my wastcOat pocket, and now find
noie III the pocket And he rammed his thumb
Down INTO the pocket, and / was sure l heard
the inning tear. as the thumb protruded and he
shoWe 1t by throwing open his waistcoat.
y, come now said the stranger, you'll
ma II hard work to max people believe that
anyway, most men would have put the bill in
their pockets and said nothing about it. Tell
you wha III do. I'll dvvy with you
All right, said the fly bar-keep, sooner
than have any trouble about it, wen divvy' He
went to the ney-drawer took out two fives
gave one to the stranger, put the other in his
pocket that apparently had no hole in it. and
tossed the newly found Y into the till. The
stranger went out, the sly bar-keeper WINGED at
us, and in the tiu b of conscious merit set em
up for the crowd. Hardly an hour had passed
before the pro- rietOr of the cafe came around
to reckon up his profits.
what dog-gasted fool, he shouted angrily.
has taken in this miserable counterfeit of a
$40 note?
1T was too true. Poor bar-keep! The loss
came out of his salary. or his Stealngs or what
ever 1t IS that bar-keepers get rich on. That
did not matter so much, of course, but he was
never allowed to hear tle last OF it, and his fall
in his own estimation was something tremend-
ous."