The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-09-13
AN EASY GAME IN CHICAGO.
Sometimes IL Works Like Charm and
Sometimes It Doesn't.

more sincerely devoted TO his best inter-
ests than the Especial watchman" at the
great passenger depots of Chicago. Odd
ly enough, the practical and disinterest-
ed friendship of this individual is al
most universally unappreciated, not TO
say resented, by the rural pilgrims IN
the metropolis. A Waterman 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
ence, the victim of which was a 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 at 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 carpetbag upon conspicu-
Gus 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 re away. You can get it checked for
10 cents at the newsstand over there,
suggested the Waterman.
"Look a-here, young man, replied
the farmer in 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 a
mighty tough gang around this station, "
was the good natured response.
"Pshawl / 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
petbag a few moments later and crossed
the street to deposit 1t at a little place"
for "safe keeping" while they went
about block down Canal street to "see
an explosion.
81 wouldn't "a cared nothin about
the carpetbag and the buds in it,, ex'
planned the farmer Oh his return to the
depot an hour later, "but did hate tc
lose that old milestone that grandfather
brought with him from the old country.
/ thought heap Of that!"
/ II 40
while you were watching the explo
sion?" inquired the Waterman.
"I'll tell you" confessed the farmer
with a sickly grin; "they want no ex
plosion. On our way friend called th'
young chap into a place, and they began
shakin dice out of little leather box
They said it would only take minute
and the young Teller wanted to stick
! his friend for the cigars, They was
! piece of chalk on the counter, and h
asked me to keep tab Oh the game an,
mark down his winnin's. couldn't Sc
no harm in that, and / did it just {
bleege him. When they got through, tn
young chap swore and said he was Il
for it this time-hit for IS and hadn't
quarter to his name.
1.-THE Teller behind the counter bounc
ed out and swore that I'd got TO pay fo
that game before set foot outside tn
door, and the other fellers began t
crowd up, and it looked like fight, s
/ paid for the Teller and got out.
couldn't get the carpetbag when l cam
along back Seems like they d misplace
it. You don't s'pose I'll get it, do you?'
"No. You might as well save your
self the trouble of looking for that whet
stone," was the reply, 'for it will b
worn thin by the time you get L again. ,
Quite recently pair of "dice bracers'
caught promising victim at the Uniol
depot in the person of quiet and elder
ly farmer who appeared to be as curiou
concerning the ways Of the great cit.
and as meekly inoffensive as any of hi
class. He was rated easy game by th
Industrious dicemen, and they soon haC
him marking down their gains and losse
in Canal street saloon.
The game was quick one, his friend
were, of course, confronted with suddel
and unexpected losses which they wer
unable TO meet, and the angry proprle
tor bore down in full sail upon the quie
old farmer for the amount of his friend
losses. They were not so we'll acquaint
ed with the pioneer of Tazewell count
at that moment as they were five min
utes later.
His toll bronzed hands closed upol
the back of barroom chair, the legs O
the latter were lifted a moment in mid
air and then seemed to dash in dozel
different directions in the same instant
When he finally dropped the chair, h
was the sole occupant of the room, an
his leisurely walk across the street {
the depot was solitary one. He owne
the street, and, although he has been t
the city several times since, he
marked by distinguished neglect on tn
part of "the gang. Chicago Post.
Speech and Intellect.