Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-07-05
OH WHAT A GILLY.
DEACON BATRsIoK'S ANXIETY TO BET ON A
SURF THING.
One Of Two Strangers Who Wanted to buy dis
Farm Put a Secret Mark on Card, and
Man Who Came Along Said Dc
was Willing to Bet $1,000.

SARATOGA, July 4.-Eli Bathsick IS
well-to-do farmer, 05 years old, and living
ON his handsome farm in the town OF Ball
ston. He has saved his money until MS
Accommodations amounted to many tnous-
ands. and he also had excellent credit al
bank. But Mr.. Bathsick is $1,000 poorer
to-day than he was yesterday, as was
briefly told in dispatches last night.
He has fine pair of black horses, whlcu
he has been trying 10 sell, and he took
great pridei showing off their fine POI nus
in Saratoga. A few days ago a niceiy
dressed man called upon Mr.. Bathslck Ut
his farm, saying be understood that MI
Bathsick had fine team OF horses 10 SeI'
The man introduced himself as j. d.
Comstock, of Albany. The farmer was
much pleased, and it was with much prloe
that he brought out the horses. Mr.. Com
stock said he would bring his brotner-lh-
law, who was also looking for nice 1artn,
to see them. Would Mr.. Bothsick sell Ms
farm? He would.
The nice looking stranger therefore oovh
his departure, saying he would call again
and bring his brother-iu-law. Two days
afterward the stranger returned, accom-
panied by "A large man wearing glasses
whom he introduced as William j. Man
ming.
After tving their horses and taking a
stroll about the farm, MIR. BathSlcK anu
his two visitors took seats under sreat
tree in the yard and carried on general
conversation. While thus engaged man
entered the yard, and approaching the
group introduced himself as John clark
and said he was from North Carolina;
He inquired of Mr.. Bathsick If he knew
anybody living about there who was from
North Carolina. Clark SAID ms slSteI
came North many years ago, and ne nau
understood that she married farmer Nv
ing in that part of Saratoga county. Mr
Clark's great desire to find his sister was
that he might give her $4,000 which haa
recently fallen TO her as her share III an
estate in North Carolina.
In the conversation the man from caro-
lima remarked: "How easy it's for strang-
ers to be swindled in New York CITY:
WHY. was myself buncoed out OF $l,OOV
while coming through there"
"How was it doneP' remar<ef Mr.. Com
stock. Thereupon Mr.. C-rK took three
cards from his pocket, face caro- ana Two
plain ones, ar1explained that the trick
was to fsiow the wLnderings OF the lace
card asst was shufied, and to De able 10
pick i out from the others.
turned his head to look in another dlrec-
tion at some object in which he appeared to
be interested. And while he was thus
looking away Comstock quickly and very
plainly creased the face card with ms
thumb nail, wholly unobserved by Mr..
Clark. and who, when the cards were suill-
GENTLY mixed up, said: ~ will lay so,OOO
that none Of you gentlemen can PICK OUT
the face card
The farmer and the two strangers who
had watched the proceedings with interest
were silent for moment. Finally, MT
ComstOck said to Mr.. Bathsick: You
know which card it is; pick 1t out" he
did so at once, and with some exultatlon
showed the face card. With much aston
ishment the dealer of the cards exclaimed
"You have now my 5000, but you didn't
put up anything, so it is not fair that you
Should take my money without any risk ON
your part"
Mr.. Clark thus expressed the opinion
that none of the three men present could
produce $1,000. Comstock took the old
farmer aside and said to him. II have
sister in Ballston from whom | can get
s., 900, and if you can get 1000 more we
will scoop this fellows money and divide"
Now, Mr.. Bathsick is deacon in the
Baptist Church, and knew the command
against covetousness, but this chance TO
pick up 50, 900 from foe was too much for
his religious scruples. He Immediately
hitched up his pair Of blacks and, accom-
panied by MIR. Comstock, drove to Balls
ton. where he readily found a friend to en-
dorse his note for $1,000, and which was
promptly discounted at Ballston Spa Ma
tional Bank The money was partly in bills
and partly in gold and silver, and the
cashier loaned him coin bag to carry the
money nome in. Meantime Comstock had
seen his sister, from he had secured
2,000.
On their way back to Bathsick's house
they met Clark walking toward the viii
lase. He said he had become weary of
waiting for their return. But" said
Constock, 1--WE have the money, and now
we want your $1,000, according to your
promise" Clark began to beg of, and said
he would come again the next day.
Comstock declared that was hardly fair,
and suggested that Clark put his money in
a box with their 81, 600 and leave it all with
Mr.. Bathsick until the next morning, when
they would all meet there again. Clark
reluctantly agreed, and they all went over
to Bathsick's house, where Comstock pro-
duced box, in which all the money was
placed and securely nailed up and the box
given TO Mr. Bathsick to keep securely.
It was restless night for Farmer Bath
sick He could not sleep, for the posses
sion of $4,000 was 4 most burdensome
secret. Morning came after watchful
night, but the three men did not return.
As the day advanced he opened the boz.
1t contained a lot OF sawdust, some pen
MES and lot of brown paper. He hur-
ried TO Ballston, executed a mortgage Of
$1,000 to secure the friend who had en-
dorsedshise note, and laid the facts of his
folly fully before the head Of the police,
who have so far looked in vain for the
swindlers.