The morning call., 1894-10-25
HE LOST TWENTY.
How a Drummer Made a
Costly Mistake.
A Dapper Young Man in a Gray Suit
Spoiled His Little Game as
Prestidigitator.

dapper young man, dressed in q gray suit
made $50 In about as easy manner yesterday
as man who is disincliued to earn money by
honest means could wish. 1t occurred In sa-
loon far out on the line of cars which run into
the Presidio reservation, and all yesterday
afternoon the proprietor of the liquid refresh
meht carayansary and his friends were out on
a cunning tour for the thrifty young man.
IL was shortly after IL o'clock when the
FALCON man was entertaining two or three of
his friends on the outside of his bar. One OF
these fri ends was wel-knOwn drummer for a
downtown house. He Is supposed to be en- rap
pert with The latest "swindles" and schemes
that float around or are worked by the shrewd
men who through the aid of their wits live on
the sunny side of Easy street.
But the drummer has one falling IL such it
may be called. AT any rate be calls It such
now. That falling is the belief that lie is pres
tidigtator or legerdemalnist of the most ap-
proved kind. As such be will not conc de any
thing TO the memory OF Heller or that other
famous sleight-Of-nand woTK eT, Signor BltZ
Yesterday, while talking with the saloon
man and the others the spell came over him 10
perform some feat of legefdemain that would
make even Professor Hermann yale with envy
because he could not do IL.
Producing $50 gold piece, he held 1T up to
the gaze of his auditors. and then announced
himself.
Gentlemen. PH make that twenty disappear
like fash. and I'll bet The drinks you can't
One rash individual who had by luck once
upon time coppered pea and.Shell game.
took him up.
In the busle and confusion which followed
the announcement no one OF the party had
noticed that dapper-loOking young man,
| attired in gray suit had entered and was
standing in the midst OF the group and watch.
| ing the legeTdemainist
After displaying the twenty-dollar piece the
drummer made few wild passes with his arms
taking care not to get near his own pockets
| He. however llt the lanner
or twice with his swinging arms.
Now" be said at last, where's the
| twenty?'
The saloon man guessed it was I'D his sleeve.
| another claimed that he had thrown it under
| his coat and was holding il beneath his armpit
The man who bad made the bet proceeded in
| a practical way TO search the drummer's
! clothes. All took a decided interest in this
! operation, and nobody watched the dapper
! young man dressed in gray.
After the excitement attendant upon the re-
suit was over The bettOr and the others gave
up The proposition. The former admit ed mat
he had lost the drinks and begged the presti.
dgtator 10 reveal his secret.
why" be said, with a chucke Of satisfac-
tion, ''ips-'
He got no further He had glanced around
and for the first time noted that the Gapper
young man was not present.
Where's that fellow In the gray suit ?" he
fairly yelled.
"Oh. he went out few minutes ago. enlied
the bartender.
"He ddi" fairly roared the drummer. "Why,
L put the twenty In his side coat DOCK et
Wasn't he one of our cTowd?"
Then there was scurrying and hustling
about by all the members of the party. They
ran out ana up down the street. but il was as
vain as the search for young Lochinyar.
There was racing ana chasing the block all around
But the man with the twenty was not to be found
When last seen The drummer was bribing his
friends not to guy him or TO tell others about
his sleieht-of-hand feat by spending the better
part OF another twenty. The saloon man was
the main one who had no fault to find with the
event.