Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-03-28
THE FOOL AND HIS "7oAr SKINS !


Tuesday forenoon Erastus p. lIoul
throp, a we'll know farmer who lives a
little distance west of the Sl.epaug de
pot. received a call from Il we'll .;ppear
ing stranger. who introduced himself
rs Mr. Chase, an officer of the Wa
terbury Clock company, who said thai
! he had $40. 900 which he had decided
/ to invest in real estate, and would like
! to look over Mr. Moulthrop's farm.
| which he had heard was for sale. Mr..
! Chase" had q horse and carriage, which
he had hired Of Seth Pratt, and he and
Mr.. Moulthrop got in the carriage and
drove TO the south portion of the farm
on the Plumb Hill road. Here they
got out to view the land and were
joined by simple looking individual,
who carried tin trunk
The third party, who did not appear
very bright. remarked that he had
come from the south to sell some iron
mining securities and had disposed of
them to advantage in Philadelphia for
''toadskins." but had lost 81, 600 in
New York When asked what he
meant by ''toadskins." the stranger
opened his tin box and began to take
out fistfuls of bills and silver certificates
and throw them on the stone wall.
The box seemed to be full of money
When asked how he had LOST his 81 00U
in, New York, the stranger took froll4
his pocket a handkerchief, and after
untying it took out three cards, two of
which were plain white on the face and
the third red
He then proceeded to show how he
had made a wager that no one could
tell the red card as it lay face down
ward on the handkerchief, and Il New
York man had been able to pick it out.
''Still, it was very difficult thing to
do" and he would wager that neither
'Mr Chase" or Mr. Moulthrop could
tell the red card.
Chase" took up the cards, and
while the stranger was gathering up his
money from the stone wall quickly
turned down the corner of one card
and offered to take the bet. When the
cards were shuffied again of course
"Chase" picked out the right card and
won. Then Moulthrop was requested
to put up some money and try it, but
he refused saying he had no money,
and despite the urgent request of the
fellows he refused to bet Finally
''Chase" suggested that they might as
we'll leave the silnpeton and return;
but he and Mou!throp had not drlv
en- far on the way TO the latters
house when the alleged ''Chase" said
that it was not right to leave such a
foolish fellow with such /; large sum of
money, and that they ought to see that
it was safely deposited in the bank for
him, and he turned to drive back, but
Moulthrop decided that he had seen
about all of the gentleman's company
that he desired to, and left him.
Whether benevolent Mr. Chase
was successful in his effort to induce
the poor, foolish fellow to put his
money in the bank is net known, but
he evidently thought he would look
elsewhere for farm, as he drove Mr..
Pratt's horse to Cornwall bridge and
left it to be returned by the stage
driver. From some inquiries he made
previously about the road to New Mil
ford, perhaps he is thinking of pur-
chasing in that town. What has be-
come OF the card man with the toad
skins is not known but it is certain
that lie got hold of the wrong sort of
man when he tried to pluck Assessor
Moulthrop. Waterbury American.