The weekly tribune., 1893-08-18

|
read the papers Oh. Lord, what fool
you must bel"
The old man 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 mo fool:'
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 a gold
brick tied up IL a red handkerchief and
an Indian with INN? Man said the brick
was worth $1,000, and he'd sell it for
$4,000, didn't he;'
"He did"
On, what lark" laughed the bank
er's clerk, and every one i'll the Office was
On broad grin at the mystifcation 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 lump
OF lead covered with gold paint that is
worth about %iG5, and you've come down
here t. the United Statos assay Office TO
have the lead analyzed and get told what
monkey yon We made of yourself" And
every one howled with mirth.
Not SO fast, young man." objected
the Jayhawker You were right about
the Californian and the redskin selling
me the gold brick, but there your infor-
nation ceased. 'Taint no bit of lead they
worked off onme hada chip of it ana
lyzed. No. sir want born Yesterday
if l am from the country"
You had it assayed!" burst ont the
bankers clerk, almost exploding with
the intensity of his grin. You knocked
a corner OFF the brick, and then they
changed 1t on yon. substituting piece
OF real gold cut from S. goldpiece.
That of course was found to DE all right
and they landed you like an old guy.
high and dry" Laughter
No. they didn't" protested the Jay
hawker. I've got the genuine thing.
III bet you $500 it's II real gold brick"
And he pulled out the sum of money
named and threw it on the table.
There Were cries of Don't take the
poor old chumps money. He's been done
once" and, "'Tain't fair to bet on sure
thing" The iayhawker, however, pro-
tested.
"lm rick" he said. I've rot a lot
more money I'm going to spend Oh gold
bricks, and if any one can fool me want
to know it. I'd like to take q fiier on it
anyway"
The bankers clerk hardly liked TO
cheat the jayhawker, but all the rest said
that the lesson would be worth $500 to
the Old fellow.
I'll make the bet without looking 81
the brick" said the bankers clerk. "The
terms of it are that you've been fooled
and that you've bought lump Of lead
or something Money talks. Here's
mine" and he threw $500 on the table.
There We're some moral scruples in the
minds of the crowd about "doing" tho
old man mp 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 look of
came over his face
Gentlemen" he said, this brick will |
not need any assaying. 1t was made III |
this building, and it has the government |
stamp upon it. 1t is worth $4,000"
The jayhawker reached for the stake
money and transferred it to his pocket.
Tho grin on the face of the know it all |
clerk changed to an expression of pain
Is he turned to the man nearest to him
md politely requested that he kick him
% the foot Of Wall street and off into the
Cast river
The only person IL the crown who was
milling now was the jayhawker. Turn
ng to the assayor, who had taken no part
II the proceedings, he said:
Il had business here. but have trans
cted it. My business is exclusively
With smart young alexis who know it
IL and want to enighten the old suck
rs Good day, gentlemen" He beamul
pon them for u moment and was gone
Outside the assay Office lie was joined
y IA young man who likely enough
capped" his game when occasion re-
mred.
Did it work. uncle" inquired tho lat.
er anXiously.
Work Did it ever fail? Let's go up
D one Of the Broadway banks. and you
all start II crowd guessing and betting ,
5 to whether it's real gold. Work"
They sauntcrpd west. The old man {
'oked SO cU!!r'csS and iWuocerlt tLat :
very second ,uiIcn thoy met had Il {
md TO sell lin green goods or rick bis
ocket. New York Herald
The larEcet Go.hic ch,:rrh IA the world |
Cologne cathedral. H. roUrGa'tou I