River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-02-26
AN EASY PREY.
How the Old Man Worked a Little scheme
to Pick Tn n Five.

to Pick Up a Five.
A three shell fakir had Just begun
operations on the outskirts of South
ern village when an old fellow wear
ing a green vest and long jeans coat
came along, and who, after looking for
awhile at the manipulation. of the
shells, said:
You've got some sort of trick,
reckon"
''Oh, not very much of a trick. Sort
of game that's as fair for one as it is
for the other"
"Yas, and reckon good deal fairer
for one than the other"
"No," replied the falsir, continuing to
work the shells, II don't think so. l
have lost considerable money at il in
my time"
"why don't you do something else,
them"
Truth is / have been at this bust
ness so long that don't know how TO
make living any other way"
RAISED to it, / reckon"
"Yes, my father done the same thing"
"And he lost good deal of money.
too. reckon"
''Got broke up and had to quit the
business"
"And I reckon you low to foller in
his footsteps"
"Not If | can help n; still, I've got to
take my chances"
~ reckon you air right about that.
Say. how do the thing work?"
''Tll show you: You see | put this
pea down here and cover it with a
she'll"
That's easy enough DONE" said the
old fellow, wiping his tobacco-stained
mouth on the tail of his coat.
''Oh. yes, putting it there is easy
enough, but the thing is to guess which
shell it is under"
"WaA, but don't have to guess when
/ seed which one you put it under"
''Well you are entitled to your opin-
ion. but I'll bet you five dollars you
can't guess which shell the pea is
UNDER
81 'bleve I'll go you once jest for luck.
It's under that one right thar.
The falxir lifted up the shell indicated
and there was the pea
"Yes, sir, you got me that time. Sup
pose we try it again. Now I'll bet you
ten you can't tell which one it's under"
up with yo' money. I'm yo' man."
The money was put up. Under this
one" said the old fellow.
"Well, you happened to lose that
time" said the fakir, taking up the
shell and then taking the money. want
to try it again?"
"No, / believe not" the old fellow re-
piled, sauntering away. Shortly after
ward he was stopped by an acquaint-
ance. who, said: Jerry, | thought you
had more sense than that"
THAN whut?" he asked in surprise.
"Why, didn't think you would let
man come along and beat you out of
your money that easily"
HAS any body beat me outen any
money!"
"Why, of course. That fellow back
there beat you out of five dollars"
THAT so? Now let me calculate a
little. bet him five the fust time and
won: and the second time | bet ten and
lost"
Eyes. which means that he beat you
out of FIVE"
1T do look little that way. but let
me sorter explain. knowd that he
wanted to draw me on and that could
git the fust bet, and did; but the next
time put up counterfeit ten. He has
mixed it up with his other money and
now couldn't tell whar he got it. My
son is n constable, you know, and after
while he will pull the Teller for havin'
counterfeit money and then we will run
him in and fine him and make few
dollars by the operation. Times air so
hard now that it do push honest man
nightly, and when / manage to pick
up a five now and then consider that
have done putty ell."-Arkansaw
Traveller