Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-29
MISSING THE MARK.
Sunko stc-rers Tackle y HAySeed who
Could Play Their Game.

toulu flny Iholr ehmo.
Two cute chaps from the city. ostensibly
telling LIGHTNING rods and incidentally
picking up all the rural snaps they could
find, pulled up NJ farmers house not long
ago out In WnshtenAw county and wanted
dinner and horse fed. The farmer took
them in. and they sized him up and pro
ceedod To take him In also He was vory
green, aud every chestnut they told him
tiekled him immensely. Aftor dinner they
gave him cigar and told him other old
storieA, aud at last one OF them noticed
tine old clock on the mGntel with it, long
pendulum swinging TO and fro snow,
there ia thing" said one, with wink Mt
the other ''that looks simple and easy, yet
not one man In million can do IT,"
"WhRt's thatW asked tho farmer limo.
Gently aud curiously.
why. concentrating ones mind on ono
thing for any given time, say for an hour
Do you believe you could watch that pen
dutum for that long and count Its strokes
each time aloudH
-, don't believe it'll know It." asserted
the farmer
Maybe you'd like 10 bet something on
IL" yentured one OF tic men insinuRtingly
well, | hain't got much, hcsitGtcd tho
farmer, "but IN go you 400 on II"
This city man didn't think he had that
much, hut he managed to ind II aud thea
said he was ready.
walt till 10 md get mine, remarked
the farmer, and he went out and came back
in two or three minutes with the money.
Let our friend hold tho stakss, aug
gested the willy city man.
Course" assented tho honest farmer.
aud then the count began.
The old fellow kept his eye ON the pen.
dulum aud his tongue on tbs count, and Rt
the ond Of the first quarter ons Of the men
suggested that tina other might 70 out and
look up the horse, No they would DO ready
to start when the count was done. They
were wise enough TO lsi the stakeholder
remain, 80 rs not 10 excite suspicion,
though the old man WIS such an easy ono
that such thing seemed impossible. At
the end Of the second quarter tho man re-
turned.
go on with the count" he said. "lhe
last half Is where VIM
The old man was getting tired, and 10
braced himself, but Of course he could not
reply and keep up the count also,
"Ifyou'll excuse my friend Just minute"
continued the man, I'D like 10 nave him
70 out 70 tue pukk1 sNltA NV W h- 9'ii'
thing that's broken. He'll be back right
away, and wen trust you TO count fair"
The man got ZIP to go The farmer kept
right on counting, but he dropped his hand
In his coat pocket and came out with big,
ugly looking pistol. Henever said = word,
except that intefminsble counting, but he
covered them with the gun and shook his
head warningly. They made 4 move, aud
they saw the self cooking hammer begin to
rise slowly. aud thsy stopped. The old man
kept right on counting. and tie Two wos-
thiss stood there trembling,
"Call IL a draw" sAld one.
flake the stakes" pleaded the other,
bus the old mHn shook his head and kept
on counting and at last the hour was up.
There, By thunder he exclaimed in a
tone Of exultahen and reiief. u knoUed
| could do Il. Vow, hand me over that
money and psy Tor yer dinner and the horss
fesi. and say" he continued, rs they hand
ed IL out, "Eupposin you give me So extra
for wear and tear
They kicked. but he threatened 70 drive
them before bis gun TO the nearest town
and hand them over 20 the authorities, 70
they gave him the ta6 for wear and tear.
Now, git out Of hoa," he said, kicking
them both out OF the house and calling the
dog, "ald II you've got any friends that
thinks as you do, send 'en around. "-De-
troit Free Press