The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-22
MISSING THE MARK.
Bunko Steerers Tackle a Hayseed
Who Could Play Their Game.

Two cute chaps from the city. ostensi-
bly, selling lightning rods and incidental
~ picking up all the rural snaps they
could find. pulled up at a farmers house
not long ago out I'm Washtenaw county
and wanted dinner and a horse fed. The
farmer took them in, and they sized him
up and proceeded to take him in also.
He was very green. and every chestnut
they told him tickled him immensely.
After dinner they gave him cigar and
told him other old stories and at last
one of them noticed the old clock on the
mantel with its long pendulum swinging
to and fro. Now. there is a thing,
said one. with a wink at the other, that
looks simple and easy, yet not one man
in a million can do II"
What's that?'' asked the farmer in
nocently and curiously.
why, concentrating ones mind on
one thing for any given time. say for an
hour. Do you believe you could watch
that pendulum for that long and count
its strokes each time aloud?'
Il don't believe it, know it" assert
ed the farmer.
"Mavbe you'd like to bet something on
it, ventured one of the men insinuating-
ly and smiling.
well. 1 hain't got much,' hesitated
the farmer "but I'll go you 500 on it.
The city man didn't think he had that
much, but ne managed to find it and
then said he was ready.
wait till l go and get mine, re-
marked the farmer. and he went out and
came back in two or three minutes with
the money.
Let our friend hold the stakes sug-
gested the willy city man.
Course" assented the honest farmer,
and then the count began.
. The old fellow kept his eyes on the
pendulum and his tongue on the count,
and at the end of the first quarter one
of the men suggested that the other
might go out and look up the horse, so
they would be ready TO start when the
count was done They were wise enough
to let the stakeholder remain, so as not
to excite suspicion, though the old man
was such an easy one that such thing
seemed impossible. At the end of the
second quarter the man returned.
Go on with the count" he said. The
last half is where l win"
The OLD man was getting tired, and he
braced himself but, of course, he could
not reply and keep the count also.
IF youll excuse my friend just a
minute" continued the man, I'd like
to have him go out to the buggy with me
to fix something that's broken. He'll be
back right away, and We'll trust you
to count fair"
The man got up to 90. The farmer
kept right on counting, but he dropped
his hand in his coat pocket and came
Out WIFI d hASs uElN ibthAAAo RA'NNA"
never said a word, except that intermin-
able counting, but he covered them with
the gun and shook his head warningly.
They made a move, and they saw the
self-cocking hammer begin TO rise slow
ly. and they stopped. The old man kept
right on counting. and the two worthless
stood there trembling.
call IL a draw" said one.
Take the stakes" pleaded the other,
but the old man shook his head and
kept on counting, and at last the hour
was up.
There. by thunder" he exclaimed in
tone of exultation and relief. Il knowed
[ could do il. Now, hand me over that
money and pay for yer dinner and the
horse feed. and say" he continued, as
they handed it out, "supposin you give
me S25 extra for wear and tear"
They kicked. but he threatened TO
drive them before his gun 10 the nearest
town and hand them over to the authori-
ties. so they gave him the $25 for wear
and tear.
Now. git out of here he said, kick
ing them both ont of the house and call
ing the dog. and ii you've got any
friends that thinks as YOU do, send EN-
around Detroit Free Press