The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-27
Locating the QUEEN.


The performance in Forepaugh's circus tent
yesterday afternoon had just ended. Within
the sideshow tents the hand organs set up their
loudest and livelest music and the loud-voiced
fakir outside redoubled his oratorical exertions
as the great crowd surged past his grand aggre-
CATION Of wonders. AT the southern end of the
lake front, away from the noise and hurry burly
of the big show, says the Chicago Mad, sat two
tired-looking individuals, whose every appear
ance indicated that they had left their work
upon the farm TO enjoy day with Forepaugh,
and had done il so thoroughly that they were
half dead with fatigue. A three card monte
sharp's eagle eye caught the rustics and he
swoopsd down upon his prey like a young
rooster after potato bug.
Pretty hot, isn't itg' he began ''You
haven't seen man around here have you,
with long, white linen buster on. tall white
him. Friend of mine Left me about an hour
ago. He's going to have some fellows arrested
down there IN one OF the little tents. Darned
fool, tell him. You see, he was swindled by
couple OF men-three-card mon-what is IL? o,
yes; three-card Monte Carlo. Taken into camp
just as SLICK as grease. Lost ouNle of hun.
ored on it in less than a minute. Robbery
nothing else-but mans a blamed fool to bet
his money on another fellows game. Served
him right, say"
Cleaned him out ehY' drawled one of the
rustics. We'll that game is as old as the hills,
ana Fellow that hasn't more sense than to try
to beat it ought to be turned out to pasture for
awhile. -"
Looks simple enough, continued the fakir.
Il saw the whole thing OF course | wouldn't
bet-not cent-but blamed if / wouldn't have
put my money just where my friend did,
Darned sharp, these show fellows. Sight-of
hand trick, | guess. They mix up the cards
some way when they throw them down. That
is the only explanation of it can give"
The farmers laughed. well. you've guessed
1t, said one Of them after hearty burst of
merriment.
ooh, laugh away-seems funny enough now;
but 1t isn't SO darned funny to the poor fool
who loses his money. It isn't an easy thing to
do, let me tell you. can't throw the cards
just as those fellows did, but they took three
cards, just like this, and threw them down like
that, and then bet that my friend couldn't PICK
out the queen"
Straight three card monte, as sure as you're
born" said one of the rural visitors I've read
all about it a hundred times. Never saw the
thing done though"
well, this is all there is to 1.-THE Snowman
enough, amt it!''
Why, should say sol don't see how your
friend lost his money"
He picked out the wrong card, that's ALL"
guess -
well, don't you fool yourselfl 1t isn't such
an easy trick to pick out the right card. Do
you think you can do it?"
Il could If the other fellow didn't do better
work than you do
bet you quarter you can't pick out the
queen, just as the cards lie there now"
the cards, showing the smiling face of the
queen.
well, by jingo you did it the first time.
There's your money. Now, then, watch the
cards closely; Therei Pick out the queen. I'll
bet you dollar you can't do it, or S. or So
or SIS, or $780,"
Well. put up your money If you want to
Walk home with your fool friend I've Just 500
left, and ITS going to win 500 more for me right
here and now"
A moment later one of the grangers held in
his hand $500, while the other bent over the
cards preparatory TO picking out the royal win
ner.
Hurry up! Locate the queen and the moneys
yours if not its mine And the professional
Gungrily eyed the stakes. But his victim was
inclined to move rather leisurely. Lets see,"
ne SAID medltatlvely, you stood here just like
this, and you held the three cards in your hand
like this with the queen on top Then you gave
your arm swing like this and"
"Well!"
"Palmed the queen. dropped the nine spot in
IT'S place, ana showed the queen up your right
coat sleeve. A very bad job, too, partner. be-
cause It's dead crooked and so easy that any
schoolboy might catch you dead to rights and
shoot you full OF holes before you could square
youself.
81 shall always remember the last time
worked that lay myself" he continued, as he
slowed away the roll of bills. 1T was in the
summer of 1886. 1 was doing outside work
with Barnum's show that season. and when we
struck Louisville caught sleepy young fellow
with more money than brains and tried to work
the switch on him-just as you do it, precisely
had not finished the experiment before made
a rather startling discovery. | found that my
ertlung was tnhaling air through large hole
near my fifth rib. For the next two seasons
did not take an active interest in the circus
business. But eventually took to the road
again, and I've been with Sells Bros. ever since
up to a week ago, when Joe and came here to
wait for Forepaugh. How are they coming,
partner?'