The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-12-01


after I've told them all the scalp and
skin diseases that the soap will cure, I
tells the jays that I'm going to give
them each a piece Of the soap free, and
If they don't want it after they get it
they a sell it to me for ten cents.
Then l hands out the soap and the
guys takes it. When I ask them if
they will sell it to me for ten cents
most all Of them hands it back. Sura
enough, [ goes down in my hat full Of
coin and gives them all a dime a piece.
Then the fun begins. I keep my chin
agolng ali the time like q campaign
orator.
HOW HIS VICTIMS ARE CAUGHT.
"All I'm here for, gentlemen, says I.
Is to advertise the commodity, and ali
[ want you to do is to take the soap
home and try it. There's a fellow over
there who seems to doubt me. All
right, neighbor. I'll convince you that
I'm talking according to Hoyle. I'm
going to give you a piece of the soap
no, ! won't, neither, on second consid
GRAFTON, l sell it TO you. It's going to
cost you a quarter. If you change your
mind after you buy it give it back to
me and I'll give you a half dollar for it.
One, TWO, three, here you go! Well,
with that I gives him the soap, he gives
me a q Iarter; he hands it back, I give
him half a dollar. Twenty other PEG,
pie shove their quarters to me. I
gathers them in, gives them all a piece
Of soap, pockets two or three dollars
profit, gets eff my perch and moves on
to the next corner."
POLICE STAND BY HIM
I'D they kick? Yes, usually they do,
but the coppers generally back me up
and I 90 winner. TomIinson didn'5 do
that though. He locked me up. but I
5vengalied the police judge next day
and he let me- go. I'm only q kid and
nob0dy'8 going to stand seeing me jug
ged. That's my strong card. II I was
older it wouldn't go, but everything a
kid does goes; see2 In most OF the
towns ] work the police know me and
stand by me. When a Reuben makes
a kick they give him the ha. ha, I'm
arrested only about once in @ month.
Last time it was in Memphis. A farmer
who had been taking in my little
speech Oh the corner in big swallows
bought 81 worth Of soap from me at
one whack. He thought he was doing
me to the tune Of about $40. When I
gave him the throw down he squealed
and had me pinched. That was the
time [ spent eighteen hours in the
cooler.
THE FARMER CAMPED FOR HIM.
"The cnppers would have let me out
long before court tim9, only the farmer
went into camp at the door Of the cell
and refused to go away until he got his
81 back. Did l ante up2 Well, if I did
! did, but if I did I'm a liar. I carried
his 81 cut CT court in my inside pocket,
and before I left him l told him I was
going to buy two brownstone fronts
and a railroad with his money"
Don't you think you're q young
,swindler?' asked the reporter.
Say not so. I'm a fakir, simple aud
unadulterated. I might tell you I'm
Chauncey Depew, bus I won't. I can.
not tell a lie
why don't you go home and be,
have yourself like a little gentleman7"
II might have settled down some
years ago" the boy answered with an
| expression of melancholy settling upon
his face, but ISIS too late now. I'm too
far gone"
A look of reproach and resentment
came over the childish face as the sew
eral gentlemen present broke out into
the laugh which the obvious absurdity
Of the boys remark provoked.
HIS HOME n PARENTS.
Sure I've got a home and a mother
and father, too," he said in reply to
another query. my folks live in
Birmingham, Ala. They have given
up trying to keep me at home. I've
tried hard to settle down. Been to
| school and church as much as two
weeks at a stretch, but I had to cave
in at the end and go back the road. l
just can't help it. My parents used to
cry over ma, but they don't any more.
1t is in my blood, and 1t would kill ms
to stay in n town more than three
days at one time"
Edgar, the Spieler, said that he had
just returned from Louisa Court house
where he had worked his game most