Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-07-16
HADFUN WITH A CIRCUS.
THE TICKET SELLER WORKED
THE FLIM-FLAM GAME.
And When the Countryman Objected tire
Arms Were Called Into Use--fun
for some, hut Not SO Funny
for Others.

co and Colorado.
Il got to ella City, and heard
there was circus at Maricopa ana
thought I'd take it in. for wanted TO
sell u bill at Stanwix. and might do
something in Marlcopa too. | don't
know as you fellows ever saw circus
in the Southwest. You wouldn't know
it Every man In the shows walk
ing arsenal-has TO be ia that country.
And the man 10 the ticket wagon has
guns on all sides OF him. It's merely
a matter OF preponderance OF shoot
ing weapons which survives after cir
Gus time--the show or the pOpulace
This show had been in Marlcopa
ten days aud there hadn't been any
trouble to speak Of One man from
the hills had been killed at the ticket
wagon In dispute over the right
change but he'd been warned II he
asked for that flyer again he'd get
plugged He did ask. with his gun
but he missed and he was plugged
well. you see there's always a
mob around the ticket wagon and
holding up their hands hourishing
bills and gold pieces and bowling for
tickets-greasers IniunS COW boys
miners rancherS gamblers every
kind you can think Of The ticket
seller-the CRATER has few one
dollar bills wound around his middle
finger, so that the ends come together
and il looks as though he had twice As
many bills as he has. A granger
comes up for ticket hands over d
five.dollar bill the CRATER slaps down
the ticket thumbs over tho ends OF
four bills, in PLATA sight OF the farmer,
whips them out from under his hnger
rolls them. and hands them down.
Nine times out o. ten the hayseed
grabs the money. stutfs II in his pocket
and elbows out OF the crowd before
trying TO count the change Then he
finds out that he has only two one
dollar bills when he thought he saw
the ticket seller count him out four
Well he goes back with fire In his
eye. but IL doesn't do him any good.
Anyhow, 1t didn't seem 10 tho day I
was up TO Marlcopa- was Just get.
ting near the ticket wagon myself
when one o. these rustlcs thAtd had
the flimaam game played on him came
rushing up and squeezed through tho
gang. You tarual thief he says 70
the CRATER grme my money will
you?
"The ticket man just looked At b m
out o the corner OF his eye. and went
on selling until the sucker began TO
yell robbers and things when he
shouted Get out o here You cant
play that game with thi succas.
But blast your carcass I gave
you n tenner and here's only "a back
Cuss me If I'll pay mOrc'u 81 for any
succus.
You're crazy. old man: move
along now out o the crowd or you'll
get hurt
That seemed TO annoy the farmer
for quickeTn scat he put three bullets
through the wagon window TO ease
his mind, and the CRATER began "a
pepper back. rather regardless Of tho
promiscuous crowd skipped on to
the gold chariot at one side got be-.
hind a big wooden angel on one
corner OF IT and stayed there where
could look out with little danger oil
getting pellet But they stopped
, shooting pretty soon. You see the
CRATER had two men In tho wagon
who grabbed their guns the minute
the fuss began and blazed ava al
the old man. while the giraffe had
settled down 10 selling tickets again.
The rustic saw the odds were against
| him and he tit out swearing yen.
geauce. He had only a scratch on the
shoulder but stout opper.colorcf
| old lady from over the border innd.
| vertently got between him and ono d
the slugs from the ticket wagon anc
! didn't live to sec the show. Her hus
band was disposed 10 find fault bu
the CRATER apologized and passed hin
in free, 80 he made up his mind 20 IL
bygones be bygones.
Il think IL was just alter the biz
bareback act that every body in tn,
tent suddenly heard guns popping OF
| the outside. But the clown was ms
coming into the ring. and We didn'
pay much attention 10 the matter I'M
til casual bullets began TO interior
with the comfort OF the audience. nm,
when the clown himself was bowie,
over and had TO be carried out on
banner a good many people becam
so interested in the proceedings out
side that they paid little attention 1
the performance, Then all at ono
there was connection nedr the dress
ing tent entrance and pack OF thir
ty mounted cowboys galloped into Oh
ring. The old hayseed was at IN
head OF them. and every man had hi
fireworks out and ready for bushes,
AS you fellows know I've travele
for firearms house for twenty year
and have handled weapons BY On
thousands but when it comes TO
front view Of shooting machines in Ia
paws OF crowd OF earnest citizen,
I'm disposed 10 retire from busines,
Il was afraid the visitors near
mischief and / was about to dro
down between the seats and crawl OF
under tho edge of the tent whom ibo