Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-11-09
MISSING The MARK.
Bunko Stecrors Tackle a Uaysced Who
Could PLAY Their Game.

Could Play Their Game.
Two cute chaps from the city, ostensibly
selling lightning rods and incidentally
picking up all the rural suaps they coul1
find, pulled up at n farmers house not long
ago out in Washtenaw county and wanted
dinner and a horse fed. The farmer took
them in, and they sized him mp and pro.
cceded to take him in also. He was very
green, aud every chestnut they told HIM
tickled him immensely. After dinner they
gave him cigar and told him other old
stories, and Mt last one of them noticed
the old clock on the mantel with its long
pendulum swinging to and fro. Nov,
shcre is u thing" said one with wink at
the other, that looks simple and easy, yet
not one man in million can do it,"
Whats that2n asked the farmer limo
Gently and curiously.
"Why, concentrating ones mind on one
thing for any given time, say for an hour
DO you believe you could watch that pen
dulum for that long and count its strokes
each time aloud?'
-! don't believe it know it," asserted
the farmer
Maybe you'd like to bet something on
it," venturcd one of the men insnuatiugly.
"Wcll, hain't got much, ;" hcsitated the
farmer but I'll 90 you 800 on it,"
The city man didn't think he had that
much, but he managed to find it and then
said he was ready.
"Wait till go and get mine," remarked
the farmer aud he went out aud came back
in two or three minutes with the money.
Let our friend hold the stakes" sug-
gosted the willy city man.
Course" assented the honest farmer,
and then the count began.
The old fellow kept his eye on the pen
dulum and his tongue on the count, and at
the end of the first quarter one Of the men
suggested that the other might 90 out and
look up the horse, so they would be ready
to start when the count was done. They
were wise enough 10 let the stakeholder
remain, so as not to excite suspicion,
though the old man was such an easy one
that such a thing seemed impossible. At
the end of the second quarter the man re-
turned.
Go on with the count, he said. 1.-THE
last half is where / VIM
The old man was getting tired, and he
braced himself, but Of course he could not
reply and keep up the count also.
"Ifyou'll excuse my friend just aminute, y
continued the man, I'D like to have him
90 out to the buggy with me to fix some
thing that's broken. He'll be back right
away and we'll trust you to count fair"
The man got up to go. The farmer kept
right OH counting, but lie dropped his hand
in his coat pocket and came out with a big
ugly looking pistol. lie never said u word
except that intermnabe counting, but he
covered them with the gun and shook his
bead waningly. They made a move, and
they saw the self cooking hammer begin t
rise slowly, and they stopped. The old man
kept right on counting, and the two Tor
thes stood there trembling
Call ii draw" said one.
Take the stakes" pleaded the other
but the old man shook his head and kept
on coupling, and at last the hourwas up.
There, by thunder" he exclaimed in a
tone of cXutation and relief. Il knowed
| could do it. Now, hand me over that
money and pay for yer dinner and the horse
feed, and say" he continued as they hand
ed it out, 'supposn you give me 50 extra
for wear and tear"
They kicked, but he threatened to drive
them before his gun to the nearest town
| and hand them over to the authorities, Sc
they gave him the $25 for wear and tear
Now, git out of here, he said, kicking
! them both out of the house and calling tn,
dog, land if you've got any friends tina
thinks as you do, send EN- around. DE
troit Free Press.