Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-09-28

"It's surprising, isn't il, how many men |
who should know better, get taken in by
sure-thing gamblers and bunko men,"
1t was the deacon who spoke. He was
sitting among party of business men who
were on their way home in an H-street
car.
Why" continued the deacon, ''you
wouldn't believe it, but / could name
prominent lawyer here in Sacramento,
who, large and varied as his experience is,
was robbed OF $50 By the old shell and pea
dodge during the recent fair
shell and pea !" exclaimed one of the
business men. is it possible?"
We'll, now" said another, who is one
of the proprietors of big wholesale house,
while it is true that some have been fool
ish enough to allow themselves to be
robbed, there are great many who can
give these gamblers lesson or two. You
all know Chief Justice Beatty of the Su-
preme Court, OF course? Well, l can tell
you little story about him in connection
with the shell-and-pea game that will Off
set the deacon's swindled lawyer. Not
many months ago the Chief Justice while
| in the southern part OF the State took q run
over to San Diego, accompanied by ex-
| Justice Temple. 1t was early the next
morning that they decided to take stroll
down the beach and inhale the delightful
| ocean breeze. The beach was deserted, and
they wandered along for some distance dis
eussing various matters. Presently man
| hove into view. He YVES walking slowly to-
ward them. Over his lett arm was spread
| silk handkerchief, and be was gazing
steadily at 1t, apparently unconscious that
any one was looking at him. When the
Justice came within speaking distance Mr..
Beatty hailed the man, and ssked him
what absorbed him. The stranger looked
| up in surprise, and then explained. You
sse these three walnut shells?' he said;
well there was fellow did trick at the
| hotel yesterday with them and pea like
this. 1t cost me ten dollars to know how
it was done, and it's one Of the prettiest
| tricks | ever saw
What is the trick?' asked Judge Tenn
| pie, innocently.
why said the stranger, Il just move
the shells around in this fashion and you
couldn't guess which one the pea is under
| to save your life
~ can Clipped in Judge Beatty, and
| he pointed to the shell nearest him. Sure
enough the pea was under it. The s.ran-
ger scratched his head and looked troubled.
| He complained again about the trick hav-
| ing cost him ten dollars, and then asked
the Chief Justice to try again. The Justice
| did SO, and guessed it right every time,
seemingly much to the strangers chsgrin.
| While this was going on two other stran-
! gers happened along, and became greatly
interested in what was going on. The first
stranger shifted the shells around again
this time more dextrously than before
and challenged the Chief Justice to guess
again. The latter smiled and said it was
no trouble at ell. The shell man offered
to bet SO that he couldn't, and one of the.
new arrivals accepted the wager-backing
the Justice. The Justice guessed it and the
gamester was out another $40, which fact
seemed to worry him greatly. But he was
plucky and shifted the shells again, this
time offering to bet the Justice $40 that be
couldn't guess it right Neither of the new
arrivals offered to back the Justice this
time, and he was expected to put up his
own money. But Beatty had let them run
just about far enough, and, throwing him
self into the attitude of q genuine sport,
poked his finger at the trio and said: Say,
my friends, what dye take me for. hey
Why played that game over in Nevada
for commission before you were born
I'm enc of the profesh.' Justice Temple
was paralyzed. but the funniest sight was
the way those three sharpers made tracks
out of tina. local ty"
Everybody roared at the story on Justice
Beatty.
Then well-known commission merch-
ant and ex-public official said he had one
to tell on very smart man, who was not
as smart as the Chief Justice.
A-lr ba - Al
fair" he said. This gentleman is one of
my Oldest customers, and l know he would
not like it if l should give away his name
Suffice it to say, however, that he owns
large ranch near by and supplies the mar
ket with tons of fruit and vegetables He
thinks he is one Of the shrewdest business
men in existence, and every time he sees
you he will give youto understand that the
man that can get the best of him has to be
a dandy Well, he was in town during
the second week of the fair, and came to
my place of business to settle up accounts
with me. After this he left and proceeded
up town. He had not been gone long,
however, before he returned in great haste.
Here he said, give me $3.50 quick
proceeded to draw a check for him, and
while doing SO asked him what he was ex-
cited about. Oh he said, I've struck q
great thing up the street here. can make
$500 in five minutes. Can't lose. Best
hing ever saw ?
II looked at him, but he was in dead |
earnest. 1 asked him then to explain to |
me what sort of q scheme it was and he |
went on to tell me how he had struck |
place where, by investing all the way from
$50 to $500 and waiting for the proprietor |
to turn the wheel, person could double |
his money every five minutes. That settled |
it. l folded up the check and put it in my |
pocket. Ny friend, said I, you can have
money from me whenever you want it for
business purposes, but you can't have a
cent to play against bunko game That
man won't blow about his smartness again
very soon, l don't think"
What are you grinning about, Brown ?''
"Was grinning2"
Yes; you resembled one of those circus