The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1891-06-11
a BuNco-MAN BAMBoozLED.
All Is Not Green That Looks So, and It's
Never Too Late TO Learn.

of his neighbor. AS he set down his
! glass, however, he awkwardly knocked
1t over and little of the dregs of the
liquor it had in it ran across the table.
Hastily apologizing, the awkward man
called the waiter to wipe off the table,
| and at the same time he expressed a
| hope that the accident had not annoyed
any body. This remark he addressed
so pointedly to the man opposite, that
the latter could not but reply.
Don't mention it, " he said, looking
for the first time straight into the face
his neighbor. accidents will happen. :"
by Jove," exclaimed the other: .'If
you're not young Harold Smith, I'll eat
my hat"
That's my name, - replied the stran-
ger, in surprised voice, but l don't rec
ognize you"
Don't remember James Wilson,"
No"
''Of Wilson & Bangs?''
NO"
Hardware merchandise
No"
''Of Scranton?"
"No."
Scranton, Pa?
No"
You're a son of Harold Smith, real
estate agent, of Scranton, aren't you?"
YES"
"And yet you don't remember me?"
NO
why, was the senior member of
Wilson & Bangs in 1875, and was a close
friend and a good customer of your
worthy father, young fellow, and,
though you don't remember me, l re-
member seeing you many's the time in
the old Office there near the court house,
before l left Scranton some years ago."
SIS that sop
'Yes, indeed; that's so. And if there
is anything I can do for the son of my
old friend, I'd like to know it."
That's kind of you, Mr.. Wilson,"
said the young fellow. PAS struck it
rich since you left Scranton and have
come up to New York for the first time
to see the town. The old gentleman is
generous with me, you know, and l
have plenty of money to do the thing
in style, but don't know anyone here,
and I'm afraid to make friends with
strangers for fear I should meet dishon-
est people; but now that | have found
an old friend of my fathers, why it's
all right, You'll show me around, won't
you?" and he pulled out a big roll of
bills to pay for his drink
THAT l will, my boy, right gladly,
for my old friends sake, as well as
your own" said the elder man as his
eyes snapped at the sight of the money.
''Now that l come to think of it, re-
member hearing my father speak of
you, Mr.. Wilson"
'No doubt"
''Your firm got into temporary en-
barrassment and made an assignment"
Eyes"
There's an unpaid balance on our
books of eleven dollars against you
yet"
81 don't remember it. f"
I'm my fathers bookkeeper and
there's no doubt about it. Now, if
you're an honest man, Mr. Wilson.
you'll pay me that eleven dollars right
here and I'll give you a receipt for it.
If you won't l don't want to have any
thing more to say to YOU
Mr.. Wilson looked the green young
man over slowly from top to toe. He
saw nothing but innocent honesty and
he thought of that big roll of bills.
Here's the eleven dollars" he said.
drawing ten and one out of his wal
let and handing them over 'sNever
mind the receipt, but let's go for a stroll
up Broadway"
The young fellow took the eleven
dollars. folded them with his own roll
and remarked: Good. night, Mr.. VIII
son. l have no further use for you.r
The older man jumped up, almost
livid in the face with rage. He opened
his mouth as if to yell shower of ex-
pletives but the young fellow with a
quiet smile raised his finger warninglv
and said; Don't make a bigger fool
of yourself than you have already, Mr..
Wilson. Bunco works both ways. You.
can't expect to win every time. Ira.
la, now. Trot along"
The older bunco-steerer hung his
head and walked off without saving a
word, dazed by the preternatural
effrontery of his younger rival.-N. Y. |
Tribune.