The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-24
COUNTRYMEN IN CHICAGO.
Generally Taken Care of by sharpers Who
Await Their Coming.


The rural stranger may have many
excellent friends in the city. but none is
more sincerely devoted to his best inter-
ests than the special Waterman" at the
great passenger depots of Chicago. Oddly
enough, the practical and disinterested
friendship of this individual is almost
universally unappreciated, not to say re-
scented. by the rural pilgrims in the me-
tropolis.
A Waterman who has been for eight
years engaged in protecting the country
patrons of the Union depot from the
wiles of confidence men, baggage snatch
ers. game bracers and thugs, tells many
amusing incidents of the thanklessness
with which his good Offices have been re-
jected, but none is more to the point than
a recent experience, the victim of which
was a farmer of middle age from the
exhilaration and the excitement of his
southern part of this state.
The man from down in Egypt" had
evidently had a pleasant and successful
visit in the city and was ready to return
to the folks at home, says the Chicago
Evening Post. He was beaming with the
sojourn and had arrived at the depot
fully three hours in advance of the de-
parture of his train. After, depositing
his carpet-bag upon a conspicuous seat
in the waiting room. he proceeded to
make a leisurely survey of the entire
premises.
Friend, you'd better not leave your
satchel there: it'll be snatched up while
you're away. You can get II checked
for 10 cents at the news stand over
there" kindly suggested the watch
man.
Look a-here. young man." replied the
farmer in a tone of contemptuous self
confidence, do you see anything the
matter with this" and he pulled down
the lower eyelid and exposed the white
of his eye.
Better take my advice: there's a
mighty tough gang around this station"
was the good-natured response.
"oh. pshaw! I wasn't born yesterday.
I guess I'm able to take care of myself,
young feller!" With this he walked
away He soon fell to chatting with a
pleasant young man. They took the car
pet-bag a few moments later and crossed
the street TO deposit IL at a little place.
for safe keeping" while they went about
half a block down Canal street to see
an explosion"
II wouldn't a-cared nothing about the
carpet-bag and the buds In it," explained
the farmer, on his return to the depot an
hour later, but I hate to lose that old
milestone that grandfather brought with
him from the old country. I thought a
heap o. that?'
wei. what did they do with you while
quired the Waterman.
I'm tell ye," confessed the farmer.
with a sickly grin. they want no ex-
plosion. On our way a friend called the
young chap into a place, and they began
shaking dice out of a little leather box.
They said IL would only take a minute.
and the young Teller wanted TO stick
his friend for the cigars. They was a
piece of chalk on the counter. and he
asked me to keep tab on the game and
mark down his winnin's. / couldn't see
no harm in that. and I did Il just TO
'bleege him. When they got through the
young chap swore and said he was i'm for
il this time-hit for $ and hadn't a quar-
ter 4 his name"
The Teller behind the counter bounced
out and swore that I'd got to pay for
that game before / set foot outside the
door, and the other fellers began TO
crowd up, and Il looked like a night. so
/ paid for the Teller an got out. I
couldn't get the carpet-bag when l came
along back. Seems like they'd mis-
placed IT, You don't s'pose III get II. do
your
mo: you might as well save yourself
the trouble OF looking for that whet-
stone" was the reply. for IL will be
worn thin by the time you get IL
again"
This method OF duplicating unwary
strangers In the consequences OF a dice