The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-05-25

wouldn't get taken in so often if you
read the papers. ca, Lord. what a fool
you must be!
The old man locked puzzled. If you
will kindly talk English" he remarked.
you and I will be able to understand
each other better. What do you mean
by calling me a foolT'
Precisely what | say" spoke up the
bankers clerk. You've been taken in
by the gold brick swindle."
'Swindle, eh?"
Yes, swindle. You met a man from
California. didn't you. who had q gold
brick tied up in a red handkerchief and
an Indian with him? Man said the brick
was worth $4,000. and he'd sell it for
$1,000. didn't he?
He did"
oh. what a lark!" laughed the bank
er's clerk. and every one in the Office was
on a broad grin at the mystification Of
the jayhawker The Californian said
the Indian knew where there were q lot
more gold bricks and they've gone to get
them. And then they sold you a lump
Of lead covered with gold paint that is
worth about s .G5, and you've come down
here to the United States assay Office to
have the lead analysed and get told what
a monkey you've made of yourself" And
every one howled with mirth.
Not so fast. young man." objected
the jayhawker. You We're right about
the Californian and the redskin selling
me the gold brick, but there your infor-
nation ceased. 'Tain't no bit of lead they
worked off III me. lhada chip of it ana
lyzed. No. sir. | want born yesterday
if | am from the country"
You had it ~assayed.' burst out the
bankers clerk, almost exploding with
the intensity Of his grin. You knocked
a corner off the brick. and then they
changed it on you. substituting n niece
OF real gold cut from a 81 g~olupIece.
That OF course was found to b. I'll right.
and they landed you like an old guy
high and dry. GLaugAter.
No. they didn't protested the ~
hawker I've got the genuine thing.
I'll bet you $500 it's a real gold brick"
And he pulled out the sum OF ulo..uy
named and threw it on the table.
There Were Cries OF Don. take the
poor old chump $ Hes been done
once. and "'Tain't fair to bet on a srre
thing" The l%ayhaw7ker. however. pro-
tested
I'm rich" he said. 'T've got a lot
more money I'm gong to spend on gold
bricks. and ii any one can fool me | want
to know It I'd like to take a fiier or it
anyway
The bankers clerk hardly liked 70
cheat the ~layhawker. but all the rest said
that the lesson would be worth $500 TO
the old fellow
I'll make the bet without looking at
the brick" said the bankers clerk. "The
terms of it are that you've been fooled
and that you've bought q lump of lead
or something. Money talks. Here's
mine" and he threw $500 on the table.
There were some moral scruples in the
minds o. the crowd about doing" the
old man up in that way. but the major
ity view was that he deserved it for be-
ing SO fresh.
The money being deposited, the jay
hawker slowly unpacked his carpet bag
in the presence of a broad grin. There
were derisive cheers as he took the gold
brick from the many coverings he had
wound around it and handed it to the as
sayer
That official accepted it, and a look of
amazement came over his face.
Gentlemen" he said. "this brick will
not need any ~assaying It was made in
this building, and it has the government
stamp upon it. It is worth $40, 600"
The jayhawker reached for the stake
money and transferred it to his pocket.
The grin on the face Of the know it all
clerk changed to an expression of pain
as he turned 10 the man nearest to him
and politely requested that he kick him
TO the foot Of Wall street and off into the
East river
The only person in the crown who was
smiling now was the jayhawker. Turn
ing to the assayer, who had taken no part
In the proceedings, he said:
Il had business here, but l nave trans
acted it. My business is exclusively
with smart young alexis who know it
all and van to enlighten the old suck.
ers. Good day. gentlemen" He beamea
upon them for a moment and was gone.
Outside the assay Office he was joined
by a young man who likely enough
capped" his game when occasion re-
QuIred.
Did it work. uncler" inquired the lat
ter anxlously.
Work! Did it ever fail2 Let's 20 up
TO one Of the Broadway banks, and you
can start a crowd guessing and betting
~ to whether it's real gold. Work"
nm
looked so guileless and inaocent that
every second citizen they met had a
mind TO sell him green goods OF pick his
pocket York Herald.