The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-10-30
SHARPERS.
TWO SLICK SCHEMERS WORK THE
OLD THREE CARD LOTTERY
GAG.
Two Inventive, Fine Fingered Crooks Fix
to Skin Sucker, But Fail bya
Scratch.

Some days ago we'll dressed youn G
man registered at the Driskill and was
assigned to room.
He had companion, but whether
he registered at the Driskill or not is
not known.
The two drove over the country
pretending to be looking at property
with view of purchasing.
Among those they met in their
rounds was Mr.. James Lensing, a
farmer who lives out on the George
town road north of town.
They politely conversed with Mr..
Lensing about farm and property
values and made a good impression.
They drove back to town and their
movements are lost sight of until
yesterday morning, when one of them
in buggy again turned up at Mr..
Lensings.
Mr.. Lensing's son was in the yard
when the flash young man with a
speculative turn and glib tongue
drove up.
He inquired for the elder Mr.. Len
sing, who was in the house, and he
came out to meet the young man.
He again asked about property and
Mr.. Lensing informed him that a
neighbor had tract of land he wanted
to sell and he (Lensing) would 60 and
introduce the young man to him.
How fine things work some times for
the desperately wicked. This was just
what the flash young man with spec
ulative turn and glib tongue wanted.
Nothing could be better.
Mr.. Lensing got into the buggy and
the two drove off in the direction Of
the nelghbor who had land to sell.
A short distance down the road they
met a young man on foot, and Mr..
Marting, for by that name the man
in the buggy had introduced
himself to Mr.. Lensing, stopped and
the three talked for awhile.
Then the young man on foot with
sad and detected air tished up from
one of his pockets three cards and
began to handle them in rather an
awkward manner and finally "fxed"
a clay out" ,
Mr.. Lensing bit at it and pocketed
50. ,
The man on foot was Disguised and
kicked himself, but regained his
wonted composure and berating his
ill luck suggested that Mr.. Lensiag
bet large sum, say $4,000. Mr..
Lensing didn't have the money and
Mr.. Martin with burst of disinterested
generosity enthusiastically offered to
loan Mr.. Lensing several hundred
dollars if Mr.. Lensing could raise the
balance.
Mr.. Lensing could not raise the
money.
Mr.. Martin was sad. He knew Mr..
Lensing could rake in a small fortune
and what pity he didn't have few
hundred to plank down to tickle
Dame Fortune. -,
Mr.. Lensing finally said he had
about $2500 in the bank, and it was at
once suggested by Mr.. Martin, who
had a fertile imagination as well a
speculative turn and glib tongue, that
all three come to town where
Mr.. Lensing could draw his money
and double it in no time.
They came and the fertile magma
ton of Mr.. Martin again suggested
that Mr.. Lensing go to the bank and
draw out his $25O0 and meet him,
Mr.. Martin, at the corner of Seventh
and Layaca, near the First Presbyte-
rian church.
Mr.. Lensing was cautioned not to
say anything to the bank officials
about what he intended to do with the
money.
He did, however, and the cashier in
formed him of the trick that was
about to be played and he lett his
money in the bank. -.
He neglected, however, to notify the
officers, and not until about o'clock
did they know anything ct the bril-
liant project.
officer Gibson went to the First
Presbyterian church, hoping to get
his clutches on the sharper but he
never returned there to meet Mr.
Lensing.
He paid his bill at the Driskill about
IL o'clock, and sent the buggy he had
hired from Mr.. Monroe Miller back to
the stable by boy.
The two crooks this morning are
miles from here, and the unsophisti'
Gated over the state should keep a
sharp lookout for them.
The city marshal of Starkville