The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-05-31

nearly rolled IN the floor with merri-
ment A bankers clerk who had come
IN to inquire about a gold shipment gig.
gled till lie was crimson.
Sucker born every minute" he said.
Same old yarn. You jayhawkers
wouldn't get taken in so often if you
read the papers Oh. Lord. what a fool
you must be-
The old mar looked puzzled. If you
will kindly talk English" he remarked,
you and | will be able to understand
each other better. What do you mean
by calling me a fool:y'
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
s $4,000. 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 l~ayhawker The Californian said
the Indian knew where there were a 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 Si.65, and you've come down
here t. the United States assay Office to
nave the lead analysed and get told what
a monkey you'y W made of yourself" And
aypry opa bnyrt-l with ,,;,@L
Not so fast, young man" objected
the Jayhawher 'You We're right about
the Californian and the redssin selling
me the gold brick, but there your infor-
nation ceased faint no bit of lead they
worked off on me hada 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 II on you. sn bstituting IA piece
OF real gold eat from a - goldpiece
That OF course was found to be all right.
and they landed you like an old guy
nigh and dry Laughter
No. they didn't protested the jay
hawker I've got the genuine thing.
I'll bet yon $500 it's "a real gold brics.-
And he pulled out the sum of monet
named and threw it on the table.
There Were cries of Don't take the
poor old chump's money He's been dora
once, and faint fair to bet on a sure
thing The layhawker. however. pro
tested
I'm rich. he said. I've got "A 10:
more money I'm going to spend on gold
bricks. and If any II can fool me | want
to know 1t I'd ike TO take IA tiler on il
anyway
The bankers clerk hardly liked to
cheat the layhawker. but all the rest sid
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 1t are hat you've been fooled
and that you've bought a 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 Of 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
slowly unracked 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.
That Official accepted it, and a look Of
amazement came over his face.
Gentlemen" he said. this brick will
need any assaying It was made in
building. and it has the government
stamp upon it. It is worth 10000"
The jayhawker reached for the stake
money and transferred it to his pocket.
The grin on the face of the know it all
changed to an expression of pain
- he turned to the man nearest to him
and politely requested that he kick him
20 the foot of Wall street and of into the
East river.
The only person in the crown who was
now was the jayhawker. Turn
ng to the assayer. who had taken no part
n the proceedings, he said:
Il had business here, but I have trans
it. My business IL exclusively
With smart young alexis who know it
u and want to enlighten the old suck.
Good day. gentlemen" he beamed
lpon them for q moment and was gone.
Outside the assay Office he was Joined
y . young man who likely enough
his game when occasion re-
Iuired
did it work. uncler' inquired the lat
q a~nxiously.
Work! Did it ever fail2 Let's go up
0 n Of the Broadway banks, and You
an start a crowd guessing and betting
. TO whether it's real gold. Work.
They sauntered west. The old man
Doked SO guileless and innocent that
very second citizen they met had q !
mind TO sell him green goods or pick his
York Herald.
The largest Gothic church In the world
/. Cologne cathedral. Its foundation !