The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-03-12
"REMINISCENCES OF A "BANk''
OFFICIAL.
4 smooth SwindIer'> Scheme To Che at n
Gambler.


4 Smooth SwindIer'~ Scheme to Cheat n
Gambler.
When holiday times come around
thes make me think of clever swindle
that was played on the bank | was en-
gagged in seven or eight years ago"
1t might be as we'll to mention the
fact that the speaker was an ex-manager
Of prominent faro-bank, which once
existed near Broadway and Fourteenth
street.
You pencil singers" continued he to
the reporter, don't hear about all the
fly movements or ingenious operations
of crooks. Here's story didn't give
away at the time it happened. l was
too much ashamed of myself to
'squeal.'
1T was Christmas eve and we had an
awfully swell crowd in the house give
you the names! What do you take me
for? If there's honor among thieves,
there should be at least decency among
gamblers; no, no names. Well, | was
saying We had as fine blue-chi racket
as ever saw spread; it beat old-time
Saratoga. Three or four Of the party
stacked right up to onr two thousand
dollar limit, and the game was making
big money deal after deal
Just before IL O'Clock there came Q
ring for admittance; the porter peeped
through the slide and suddenly signalled
me to GO to him.
who is it: whispered
Policeman he gasped, his face
showing that tlelephant-skin sort of hue
which genuine Africans face assumes
when he's really scared.
Il muttered something that you'd
better not print; if the officers visit
meant the notice of raid, which We
sometimes got in friendly way, or al
order to close up for the night, why, II,
went our magnificent game. Besides,
disliked to let the stylish guests present
feel that they had been jeopardized-
bad future advertisement for the place
SO | told the porter to give a bluff tt
anybody who inquired about me in til.
room, and | slipped outside to interview
the cop in the dimly lighted vestibule
He was one | could not remember q:
belonging in the neighborhood and thai
gave the visit serious tinge.
What's up l asked nervously.
He smiled, and with slight Irisl
accent replied: oh, just nothing a
all; Yer needn't get yerself ratified il
the least. The captain has the prism
OF Christmas check from some of tn,
big storekeepers in the ward. but i
didn't reach him until about an houl
ago. He's going to Boston on the mid
night train to spend Christmas, and h.
wants TO take the cash with him. 81
/ he sint ME to ask you if Won will oblige
him with currency for it. He's wri
his name on the back of it, and the man
handing me neat-looking check draw
for $3.50, bearing leading merchant.
name as signer, and Captain IS in
| dorssment
| Il can assure you the exclamation ant
request put more cheerful color to til,
affair. lost no time III diving into m,
inside pocket and drawing out five crisl
iifties. handed them to the police
man, with the check as WE'LL Tell tn.
captain, said l. I'm glad TO accommo
date him, that he may return the none,
at his own convenience, and that pre-
fer that he should hold the check
as his Endorsement to HE might com
promise him. This was diplomancy
would help to strengthen my pull make
things more solid See.
"'Ali right said he, turning to g
ont.
Let the porter l'ring out drink fol
vou,' | suggested. He declined will
thanhye, l don't want the old man t.
smell liquor on me; I'll have a cigar
though
Il gave him one out of MY case. h,
lighted it and took the peculiar strollinl
gait of cop toward the -th Pre-
| clnct.
"On the morning after Christmas
got an express package 1t contained
police uniform, helmet and all, dark
brown wig and full dark sandy beard
also note which read: i apologiz,
for again intruding apon the raiatia
jungle of the ROYAL Bengal ole
iel, but, if you will kindl,
return these things to the Gus
toner whose card is enclosed, YOU ma,
keep the SD deposit left on them OF
the cath inst. Nothing mean abou
me. "-NelD York Iribune.