The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-01-30
AN EASY GAME IN CHICAGO.



oometimes It Works Like Charm snd
Sometimes It Doesn't.
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 watchman" at the
great passenger depots Of Chicago. Odd
" enough, the practical and disinterest-
ed friendship Of this individual 10 al
most universally unappreciated, not to
say resented, by the rural pilgrims in
the metropolis. A watchman who has
been for eight years engaged in protect
ing the country patrons Of the Union
depot from the wiles Of confidence men,
baggage snatchers, game bracers and
thugs tells many amusing incidents OF
the thanklessness with which his good
offices have been rejected, but none is
more to the point than a recent expert
enoe, the victim Of which was farmer
Of middle age from the southern part OF
this state.
The man from "down in Egypt" had
evidently had pleasant and successful
visit in the city and was ready to re-
turn to the folks ut home. He was beam
ing with the exhilaration and the excite
ment Of his sojourn, and had arrived at
the depot fully three hours in advance
Of the departure Of his train. After de-
posting his carpetbas upon oonspiou-
ous seat in the waiting room, he pro-
ceeded to make leisurely survey of the
entire premises.
Friend, you'd better not leave your
satchel there It'll be snatched up while
you away. You can get it checked for
10 cents at the newsstand over there"
suggested the watchman.
"Look a-here, young man," replied
the farmer in a tone Of contemptuous
self confidence, edo 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
mighty tough gang around this station"
was the good natured response.
"Pshawl wasn't born yesterday.
] guess I'm able to take care Of myself,
young fellerl'' With this he walked
away. He soon fell to chatting with a
pleasant young man. They took the car
petbag few moments later and crossed
the street to deposit it at q little place"
for "safe keeping" while they went
about a block down Canal street to "see
an explosion.
II wouldn't "a cared nothin about
the carpetbag and the duds in it," ex-
planned the farmer on his return to the
depot an hour later, "but did hate to
lose that old milestone that grandfather
brought with him from the old country.
I thought a heap Of that!''
"Well, what did they do with you
while you were watching the explo.
sion" inquired the watchman
"I'll tell you, confessed the farmer,
with a sickly grin; "they wa'n II no ex-
plosion. On our way friend called the
young chap into place, and they began
shakin dice out Of little leather box.
They said it would only take minute,
and the young feller wanted to 'stickI
his friend for the cigars. They was az
piece of chalk on the counter, and he !,
asked me to keep tab ON the game and
mark down his winnin's g. couldn't seeS
no harm in that, and l did it Just to
bleege him. When they got through, the
young chap swore and said he was in
for it this tiu1e-hit for % and hadn't
quarter to his name.
"The feller behind the counter bounc.
ed 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 it looked like a fight, 80
I paid for the feller and got out. l
couldn't get the carpetbag when I came
along back. Seems like they d misplaced
it. You don't s'pose I'll get it, do you?'
"No. You might as we'll save your
self the trouble Of looking for that whet-
stone" was the reply, "for it will be
worn thin by the time you get it again. "
Quite recently pair of "dice bracers'
caught promising victim at the Union
depot in the person Of quiet and elder
~ farmer who appeared to be as curious
the ways of the great city
and as meekly inoffensive as any of his
class. He was rated easy game by the
industrious dicemen, and they soon had
him marking down their gains and losses
In Canal street saloon. I
The game was quick one, his friends
were, Of course, confronted with sudden
and unexpected losses which they were
unable to meet. and the angry proprie.
tor bore down in full sail upon the quiet
old farmer for the amount Of his friends
losses. They were not SO we'll acquaint.
ed with the pioneer Of Tazewell county
at that moment as they were five mil.
utes later.
His toll bronzed hands closed upon
The back of barroom chair, the legs of
the latter were lifted moment in mid.
air and then seemed to dash in dozen
different directions in the same instant
When he finally dropped the chair, be
was the sole occupant Of the room, and
bis leisurely walk across the street to
The depot was solitary one. He owned
he street, and, although he has been to
he city several times since, he il
marked by distinguished neglect on the
part of "the gang. "-Chicago Post
Speech and Intellect.
A ko 1v,-